epidermis
[ ep-i-dur-mis ]
/ ˌɛp ɪˈdɜr mɪs /
noun
Anatomy.
the outer, nonvascular, nonsensitive layer of the skin, covering the true skin or corium.
Zoology.
the outermost living layer of an animal, usually composed of one or more layers of cells.
Botany.
a thin layer of cells forming the outer integument of seed plants and ferns.
Origin of epidermis
OTHER WORDS FROM epidermis
ep·i·der·mal, ep·i·der·mic, adjective ep·i·der·mi·cal·ly, adverbWords nearby epidermis
Example sentences from the Web for epidermal
British Dictionary definitions for epidermal
epidermis
/ (ˌɛpɪˈdɜːmɪs) /
noun
Also called: cuticle
the thin protective outer layer of the skin, composed of stratified epithelial tissue
the outer layer of cells of an invertebrate
the outer protective layer of cells of a plant, which may be thickened by a cuticle
Derived forms of epidermis
epidermal, epidermic or epidermoid, adjectiveWord Origin for epidermis
C17: via Late Latin from Greek, from
epi- +
derma skin
Medical definitions for epidermal
epidermis
[ ĕp′ĭ-dûr′mĭs ]
n.
The nonvascular outer protective layer of the skin, covering the dermis.
Other words from epidermis
ep′i•der′mal (-məl) null adj.Scientific definitions for epidermal
epidermis
[ ĕp′ĭ-dûr′mĭs ]
The protective outer layer of the skin. In invertebrate animals, the epidermis is made up of a single layer of cells. In vertebrates, it is made up of many layers of cells and overlies the dermis. Hair and feathers grow from the epidermis.
The outer layer of cells of the stems, roots, and leaves of plants. In most plants, the epidermis is a single layer of cells set close together to protect the plant from water loss, invasion by fungi, and physical damage. The epidermis that is exposed to air is covered with a protective substance called cuticle. See more at photosynthesis.