annulus

/ˈænjələs/
noun
  1. A ring-shaped object, structure, or area.
    • A smoke ring is a type of annulus that floats through the air.
    • The engineer designed a metal annulus to support the pipe joint.
    • The tree's growth rings form an annulus visible in the cross-section.
  2. In mathematics, the region between two concentric circles.
    • The area of an annulus is found by subtracting the area of the inner circle from the outer circle.
    • A washer is a real-world example of an annulus.
    • Students calculated the width of the annulus given the radii of both circles.
  3. In biology, a ring-like part or marking on an organism, such as on a worm or a mushroom stem.
    • The annulus on the mushroom's stem helps identify the species.
    • The biologist noted the annulus pattern on the fish's scales.
    • Earthworms have a visible annulus called the clitellum near their front end.
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