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n. pl. pa·te·ras also pa·te·rae (-rē) 1. A shallow bowl or dish, especially one used ceremonially by the ancient Romans in pouring libations. 2. A shallow crater on the surface of a solar system body, having an irregular or scalloped rim, caused either by past volcanic activity or by the impact of a much smaller solar system body. [Latin, perhaps from patina, shallow dish (influenced by crātēra, vessel for mixing wine with water); see PATEN.]  (click for a larger image) pateraApollinaris Patera on Mars |
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