protuberance

From French protubérance, from Latin prōtubērantia (“bulge; protuberance”), from prō + tūber (“swelling; protuberance”) + -antia (“-ance”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /pɹəʊˈtjuːbəɹəns/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /pɹoʊˈtuːbəɹəns/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

protuberance (plural protuberances)

1. A bulge, knob, swelling, spine or anything that protrudes.

   Synonyms: bulge, bump, protrusion, tuberosity

   • 1941 August, “Notes and News: The Swiss South Eastern Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 376:

     For the most part they were small standard gauge 0-6-0 side tanks of the type illustrated, with long tapered chimneys and an unusual feature for the Continent in the shape of domeless boilers, the protuberance just behind the chimney being a sandbox.

   • 1989, Ben Aaronovitch, Remembrance of the Daleks:

     Ever since their creation the Daleks have been attempting to conquer and enslave as much of the universe as they could get their grubby little protuberances on.

• protuberant