Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Spreading or expanded.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Spreading.
  • Specifically— In botany, spreading slightly; expanded: as, a patulous calyx; bearing the flowers loose or dispersed: as, a patulous peduncle
  • In entomology, noting wings which when at rest are longitudinal, or nearly so, but near the body, and partly overlapping each other, as in certain moths.
  • Gaping; patent; having a, spreading aperture.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Open; expanded; slightly spreading; having the parts loose or dispersed

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective open; spread; exposed

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[From Latin patulus, from patēre, to be open; see petə- in Indo-European roots.]

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word patulous.

Examples

  • Those open indentations are called patulous or atrophic scars, and there are ice pick scars that look like tiny indented slivers on the skin.

    Simple Skin Beauty Ellen Marmur 2009

  • Those open indentations are called patulous or atrophic scars, and there are ice pick scars that look like tiny indented slivers on the skin.

    Simple Skin Beauty Ellen Marmur 2009

  • Those open indentations are called patulous or atrophic scars, and there are ice pick scars that look like tiny indented slivers on the skin.

    Simple Skin Beauty Ellen Marmur 2009

  • Another alternative for patulous and ice-pick scars is injecting hyaluronic acid filler into the area.

    Simple Skin Beauty Ellen Marmur 2009

  • When that foundation is vaporized over time by ultraviolet radiation or aging, the pores can appear more open, a condition known as “patulous pores.”

    Simple Skin Beauty Ellen Marmur 2009

  • Another alternative for patulous and ice-pick scars is injecting hyaluronic acid filler into the area.

    Simple Skin Beauty Ellen Marmur 2009

  • When that foundation is vaporized over time by ultraviolet radiation or aging, the pores can appear more open, a condition known as “patulous pores.”

    Simple Skin Beauty Ellen Marmur 2009

  • For indented scars—patulous or atrophic scars and ice-pick scars—there are a few fairly extreme options.

    Simple Skin Beauty Ellen Marmur 2009

  • For indented scars—patulous or atrophic scars and ice-pick scars—there are a few fairly extreme options.

    Simple Skin Beauty Ellen Marmur 2009

  • For indented scars—patulous or atrophic scars and ice-pick scars—there are a few fairly extreme options.

    Simple Skin Beauty Ellen Marmur 2009

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • Wide-spreading or wide open.

    May 16, 2008