noun
palp
palp
noun
1
A small, jointed, sensory appendage near the mouth of an insect, arachnid, or similar creature.
"The spider used its palps to sense vibrations in the web."
"Under the microscope, the insect's palps were clearly visible near its mandibles."
verb
1
To examine by feeling with the hands or fingers.
"The doctor gently palped the patient's abdomen to check for tenderness."
How to Use Palp
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA specialised term: either a tiny feeler organ on an insect or spider, or the medical act of examining by touch.
When to use it
Mostly used in zoology and medicine; not everyday vocabulary.
Word Forms
palped past tense, palps plural, palpi plural, palps singular
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The spider used its _____ to sense vibrations in the web.
Etymology
From Latin palpare, "to touch softly, feel" — the same root that gives us "palpable" and "palpitate."