Definitions

1. noun

Small openings in a plant’s leaf or stem through which gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged with the atmosphere.

“The stomata in the leaf allowed it to breathe in the dry air.”

2. noun

Small pores in the skin of certain animals, especially insects, through which gases are exchanged with the environment.

“The stomata on the insect’s exoskeleton helped it to regulate its internal oxygen levels.”

3. noun (plural only)

Small depressions or pits in a surface, especially a rock or a mineral.

“The stomata on the rock’s surface were a result of weathering and erosion.”