▪ I. spatulate, a.
(ˈspætjʊlət)
[ad. mod.L. spatulat-us, f. spatula spatula. Cf. spathulate a.]
Having a broadened and rounded end like that of a common form of spatula: a. Bot. Of leaves, etc.
| 1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. iii. v. (1765) 176 Spatulate, resembling a Spatula; when the Figure is roundish, but lengthened out by the Addition of a linear Base that is narrower. 1785 Martyn Lett. Bot. xxv. (1794) 354 The leaves have..hairy, spatulate leaflets. 1806 J. Galpine Brit. Bot. 382 L[eaves] several, spatulate, rough at the apex. 1828 Sir J. E. Smith Eng. Flora II. 94 Leaves linear⁓lanceolate;..lowermost stalked, somewhat spatulate. 1850 Tyas Fav. Field Fl. Ser. ii. 74 The leaves..immediately from the root, ovate or spatulate. |
b. Zool. Of organs or parts.
| 1826 Kirby & Sp. Entomol. IV. 263. 1838 Penny Cycl. XI. 232/2 Lower incisor teeth [of giraffe]..spatulate. 1851 S. P. Woodward Mollusca i. 69 Pen like loligo, but dilated and spatulate behind. 1877 Huxley Anat. Inv. Animals vi. 262 The large basal joint..bears a curved, spatulate process. |
c. In general use.
| 1883 Frith & Allen Chiromancy 70 A woman with rather spatulate fingers and a small thumb. 1892 Pall Mall G. 30 June 6 With the long, spatulate little finger the management of business will result. 1897 Archaeol. V. 480 Rods of gilt copper expanded at one end into flat spatulate heads. |
| Comb. 1885 J. Thomson Through Masai Land ii. 88 Their weapons are a knife, a long, spatulate-shaped sword, and the bow and arrow. |
▪ II. spatulate, v.
(ˈspætjʊleɪt)
[f. spatula + -ate3.]
1. trans. To stir or mix with a spatula. Also absol.
| 1923 in L. P. Anthony Dict. Dental Sci. 269/1. 1954 O. C. Applegate Essentials of Removable Partial Denture Prosthesis 261 Spatulate thoroughly to free the mix of contained air. 1956 J. N. Anderson Appl. Dental Materials xviii. 216 The difficulty of spatulating such a mixture..usually results in overspatulation. 1957 Jrnl. Amer. Ceramic Soc. XL. 254/1 The fine powders were spatulated intensively with either pine oil or a commercial screen oil. 1981 Scand. Jrnl. Dental Res. LXXXIX. 100/2 Dentists often spatulate for too short a time. |
2. Surg. To give a spatulate form to (a tubular vessel).
| 1976 Ann. Thoracic Surg. XXII. 235/2 The end of the divided subclavian artery was then spatulated. 1977 Urologia Internat. XXXII. 369 The..terminal ureter is amputated as needed and the ureter is spatulated for about 10 mm on its anterior surface. |
Hence ˈspatulating vbl. n.
| 1966 Brit. Jrnl. Urol. XXXVIII. 525 An atraumatic catgut suture is then inserted..at the apex of the spatulating incision. 1977 Urologia Internat. XXXII. 368 The main differences are the way the submucosal tunnel is prepared, the resection and spatulating of the terminal ureter, [etc.]. |