barbule
noun
bar·bule
| \ ˈbär-(ˌ)byül
\
\
Definition of barbule
: a minute barb
especially
: one of the processes that fringe the barbs of a feather — see feather illustration
Examples of barbule in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Inside the feather’s barbules, layers of melanosomes and a type of the structural protein keratin can scatter incoming light in such a way that only certain colors reflect back out. — Michael Greshko, National Geographic, "First blue feathers found on a fossilized bird," 25 June 2019 Some bird of paradise feathers, on the other hand, are irregular, with curved, spiky barbules and cavities within the feathers. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "Scientists Shine New Light on the Blackest Black Feathers," 11 Jan. 2018 When light strikes a superblack feather's forest of barbules—which tilt at about 30 degrees toward the outer tip of the feather—it gets reflected into cavities between the tiny structures rather than outward, McCoy says. — Sid Perkins, Scientific American, "Back to Black: How Birds-of-Paradise Get Their Midnight Feathers," 9 Jan. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'barbule.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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