apothecium

[ ap-uh-thee-shee-uh m, -see- ]
/ ˌæp əˈθi ʃi əm, -si- /

noun, plural ap·o·the·ci·a [ap-uh-thee-shee-uh, -see-uh] /ˌæp əˈθi ʃi ə, -si ə/. Botany, Mycology.

the fruit of certain lichens and fungi: usually an open, saucer-shaped or cup-shaped body, the inner surface of which is covered with a layer that bears asci.

Origin of apothecium

1820–30; < New Latin < Greek apo- apo- + thēkíon, equivalent to thḗk(ē) case (see theca) + -ion diminutive suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM apothecium

ap·o·the·cial [ap-uh-thee-shuh l] /ˌæp əˈθi ʃəl/, adjective

Words nearby apothecium

apostrophize, apothecaries' measure, apothecaries' weight, apothecary, apothecary jar, apothecium, apothegm, apothem, apotheosis, apotheosize, apotropaic

Example sentences from the Web for apothecium

British Dictionary definitions for apothecium

apothecium
/ (ˌæpəˈθiːsɪəm) /

noun plural -cia (-sɪə)

botany a cup-shaped structure that contains the asci, esp in lichens; a type of ascocarp

Derived forms of apothecium

apothecial (ˌæpəˈθiːsɪəl), adjective

Word Origin for apothecium

C19: from New Latin, from apo- + Greek thēkion a little case

Scientific definitions for apothecium

apothecium
[ ăp′ə-thē′sē-əm, -shē- ]

Plural apothecia (ăp′ə-thē′sē-ə, -shē-)

A disk-shaped or cup-shaped ascocarp of some lichens and the fungi Ascomycetes.