3. (Biol.)
Defn: Intermediate in character, or on the border, between two genera, groups, families, etc., of animals or plants, and partaking somewhat of the characters of each, thus forming a connecting link; interosculant; as, the genera by which two families approximate are called osculant genera.
OSCULATE
Os"cu*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Osculated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Osculating.] Etym: [L. osculatus, p. p. of osculari to kiss, fr.
osculum a little mouth, a kiss, dim. of os mouth. See Oral, and cf.
Oscillate.]
1. To kiss.
2. (Geom.)
Defn: To touch closely, so as to have a common curvature at the point of contact. See Osculation, 2.
OSCULATE
Os"cu*late, v. i.
1. To kiss one another; to kiss.
2. (Geom.)
Defn: To touch closely. See Osculation, 2.