||Thal"a*mus (?), n.; pl.
Thalami (#). [L. thalamus chamber, Gr.
qa`lamos.] 1. (Anat.) A mass of
nervous matter on either side of the third ventricle of the brain; --
called also optic thalamus.
2. (Bot.) (a) Same as
Thallus. (b) The receptacle of a flower;
a torus.