/
kləʊˈeɪkə/
n.
(pl. cloacae
/-siː, -kiː/
)
- Zoology a common cavity at the end of the digestive tract for the release of both excretory and genital products in vertebrates (except most mammals) and certain invertebrates.
- archaic a sewer.
Derivative
Etymology
C16: from L., rel. to cluere ‘cleanse’.