sclerite

[ skleer-ahyt, skler- ]
/ ˈsklɪər aɪt, ˈsklɛr- /

noun Zoology.

any chitinous, calcareous, or similar hard part, plate, spicule, or the like.

Origin of sclerite

First recorded in 1860–65; scler- + -ite1

OTHER WORDS FROM sclerite

scle·rit·ic [skli-rit-ik] /sklɪˈrɪt ɪk/, adjective

Words nearby sclerite

sclereid, sclerema, sclerema neonatorum, sclerenchyma, scleriritomy, sclerite, scleritis, sclero-, sclero-oophoritis, scleroatrophy, scleroblastema

Example sentences from the Web for sclerite

British Dictionary definitions for sclerite

sclerite
/ (ˈsklɪəraɪt) /

noun zoology

any of the hard chitinous plates that make up the exoskeleton of an arthropod
any calcareous or chitinous part, such as a spicule or plate

Derived forms of sclerite

scleritic (sklɪəˈrɪtɪk), adjective

Word Origin for sclerite

C19: from sclero- + -ite 1