1. A small projection of tissue at the base of a hair, tooth or feather
   "The hair papilla contains blood vessels that nourish the growing hair"
    
2. A small nipple-shaped protuberance concerned with taste, touch, or smell
   "the papillae of the tongue"
    
3. (botany) a tiny outgrowth on the surface of a petal or leaf
   "The papillae on the leaf's surface were visible under magnification"

Derived forms: papillae

Type of: appendage, outgrowth, process

Part of: receptor, sense organ, sensory receptor

Encyclopedia: Papilla