Ligula \Lig"u*la\ (l[i^]g"[-u]*l[.a]), n.; pl. L. {Ligul[ae]} (-l[=e]), E. {Ligulas} (-l[.a]z). [L., a little tongue. See {Ligule}.] 1. (Bot.) See {Ligule}. 2. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The central process, or front edge, of the labium of insects. It sometimes serves as a tongue or proboscis, as in bees. [See Illust. under {Labium}, and {Hymenoptera}.] (b) A tongue-shaped lobe of the parapodia of annelids. See {Parapodium}.