| 单词 | vestigial |
| 释义 | vestigial (once / 32118 pages) adj Vestigial describes an organ or body part that continues to exist without retaining its original function, such as our appendix. The adjective vestigial derives from the Latin word vestigium, meaning "footprint, trace." It's most often used in biology to describe something that either didn't finish developing or has become, through evolution, pretty much useless. An ostrich's wings are vestigial because it's unable to fly — or do much of anything — with them. A penguin's wings, on the other hand, are not vestigial because it has found another use for them — to help it swim. WORD FAMILYvestigial: vestigially USAGE EXAMPLESBut the institution has long been seen by most as a vestigial remnant of a bygone era. The Guardian(Nov 09, 2016) The tradition of voting on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November is a vestigial structure of a by-gone age. Washington Post(Oct 25, 2016) Even before newspaper editorials shrunk into vestigial artifacts of a bygone era, their impact was self-limiting. The Guardian(Sep 29, 2016) adj not fully developed in mature animals Syn rudimentary undeveloped not developed |
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