1. plural of hilum; the scars or marks on seeds where they were attached to the plant
Usage: botanical term
2. plural of hilum; the depressions or openings in organs where blood vessels and nerves enter
Usage: anatomical term

Examples

• The botanist examined the hila on the bean seeds under a microscope.
• Different seed types have distinctively shaped hila.
• The hila of the kidneys are located on their medial surfaces.
• Blood vessels enter the lungs through the pulmonary hila.
• Students learned to identify seeds by observing their hila.
• The hila appeared as small dark spots on the seed coats.