noun
proboscis
Proboscis (noun) means a long tube-like part on an animal's head, near or forming its mouth.
noun
1
A long tube-like part on an animal's head, near or forming its mouth.
"Don Caldwell, editor-in-chief of the site Know Your Meme, namechecks Brr Brr Patapim, “a proboscis monkey that is also a tree”, as one who made it to YouTube."
— Elle Hunt, From Chimpanzini Bananini to Ballerina Cappuccina: how gen alpha went wild for Italian brain rot animals (2025)
2
The tube-shaped part some insects, worms and molluscs use to feed and suck up liquid.
3
An elephant's trunk.
4
A big or long nose on a person.
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Etymology
Comes from Latin proboscis, from Ancient Greek προβοσκίς (proboskís, “elephant's trunk”), literally "means for taking food," from προ- (pro-, “before”) plus βόσκω (bóskō, “to nourish, feed”), from the Proto-Indo-European root *gʷeh₃-, which also gives βοτάνη (botánē, “grass, fodder”).
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of proboscis?
"proboscis" (noun) means a long tube-like part on an animal's head, near or forming its mouth.
What is another word for proboscis?
Other words for "proboscis" include trunk.
What are the different meanings of proboscis?
"proboscis" has 3 main meanings: 1. A long tube-like part on an animal's head, near or forming its mouth; 2. The tube-shaped part some insects, worms and molluscs use to feed and suck up liquid; 3. An elephant's trunk.
