sclerenchyma
[ skli-reng-kuh-muh ]
/ sklɪˈrɛŋ kə mə /
noun Botany.
supporting or protective tissue composed of thickened, dry, and hardened cells.
Origin of sclerenchyma
First recorded in 1860–65;
scler- +
(par)enchyma
OTHER WORDS FROM sclerenchyma
scle·ren·chym·a·tous [skleer-eng-kim-uh-tuh s, skler-] /ˌsklɪər ɛŋˈkɪm ə təs, ˌsklɛr-/, adjectiveWords nearby sclerenchyma
scleredema,
scleredema adultorum,
sclereid,
sclerema,
sclerema neonatorum,
sclerenchyma,
scleriritomy,
sclerite,
scleritis,
sclero-,
sclero-oophoritis
Example sentences from the Web for sclerenchymatous
British Dictionary definitions for sclerenchymatous
sclerenchyma
/ (sklɪəˈrɛŋkɪmə) /
noun
a supporting tissue in plants consisting of dead cells with very thick lignified walls
Derived forms of sclerenchyma
sclerenchymatous (ˌsklɪərɛŋˈkɪmətəs), adjectiveWord Origin for sclerenchyma
C19: from
sclero- +
parenchyma
Scientific definitions for sclerenchymatous
sclerenchyma
[ sklə-rĕng′kə-mə ]
A supportive tissue of vascular plants, consisting of thick-walled, usually lignified cells. Sclerenchyma cells normally die upon reaching maturity but continue to fulfill their structural purpose in the plant. There are two types of sclerenchyma cells: fiber cells and sclereids. Compare collenchyma parenchyma.