1. a gap or missing part, as in a manuscript, series, or logical argument; hiatus.
2. (Anatomy) one of the numerous minute cavities in the substance of bone, supposed to contain nucleate cells.
3. (Botany) an air space in the cellular tissue of plants.
Origin: 1655–65; < L lacūna ditch, pit, hole, gap, deficiency, akin to lacus, lake.
"He had read a good deal too, but he had never forced himself to read anything that did not appeal to him, and so he was far too self-centered in opinion, with curious lacunae of astounding ignorance." -My Life and Loves by Frank Harris
I always found it strange that the life of Jesus is presented in the bible as a gaping lacuna, flanked by a few years following his birth and later preceding his death. Luckily, I have read Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore, which I consider to be necessary reading to complete anyone's religious education.
Note: So I chose this word because I just finished reading The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver. I actually had a whole page of words I wrote down while reading the book, but I left them at work. While Googling the word I came across a mediocre review for the book and as much as I love NPR I just feel the need to tell someone that this is a great book. I honestly woke up a little sad this morning that I had finished it, as if waking up the next day after saying goodbye to a good friend that was moving. /soapbox. Have a good weekend everyone!