noun
gena
JEH-nuh
noun
1
In zoology, the cheek area of an animal's head, or the corresponding part of an insect's head near the jaw.
"The beetle's gena bears a small ridge near the eye."
name
1
A female given name, sometimes a short form of Genevieve.
"Gena studied biology in college."
How to Use Gena
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA technical zoological term for the cheek area, or a given name.
When to use it
The anatomical sense is specialist and mostly used in entomology and zoology.
Word Forms
genae plural, genæ plural
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The beetle's _____ bears a small ridge near the eye.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin gena, "cheek."