The word "annulus" is spelled using five letters, with the emphasis placed on the second syllable. Using IPA phonetic transcription, the word is pronounced as /əˈnjuːləs/. The first syllable is pronounced as a schwa vowel sound, while the second syllable contains the long "u" sound. The final syllable has a soft "s," which is pronounced as "l-s" together. Annulus is a geometric term that describes a ring-shaped object or region, commonly used in mathematics and science.
Annulus is a noun that refers to a geometric shape or structure with a circular or ring-like form. Derived from the Latin word "annulus," meaning ring, the term primarily denotes a circular area bounded by two concentric circles. In this context, it is synonymous with the term "ring."
In mathematics, the annulus is commonly used to describe the region between two concentric circles in a plane. It can be imagined as a two-dimensional shape resembling the cross-section of a tube or a doughnut. The outer circle represents the larger radius, while the inner circle denotes the smaller radius. The entire region enclosed between these circles falls under the definition of an annulus.
In a broader sense, the term can also refer to similar ring-like structures found in various scientific disciplines. For instance, in biology and medicine, the annulus refers to a fibrous structure that encircles certain bodily organs or tissues, acting as a support or boundary. In astronomy, the term can be used to describe certain ring-shaped formations within celestial bodies, such as those present in the gas giant planets like Saturn.
Overall, whether describing a mathematical shape or a ring-like structure in a scientific context, the term annulus encapsulates the idea of a circular or ring-shaped area or structure bounded by one or more circles.
A ring; a circular or ring-shaped structure.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "annulus" has its roots in Latin. It comes from the Latin noun "annus", which means "year". The suffix "-ulus" is a diminutive, and when combined with "annus", it creates "annulus", meaning "a little ring". This term is often used in various fields, such as mathematics, where it refers to a ring-shaped object or structure.