theca
[ thee-kuh ]
/ ˈθi kə /
noun, plural the·cae [thee-see] /ˈθi si/.
a case or receptacle.
Botany, Mycology.
- a sac, cell, or capsule.
- a sporangium.
Anatomy, Zoology.
a case or sheath enclosing an organ, structure, etc., as the horny covering of an insect pupa or the loose membrane covering the spinal cord.
Origin of theca
1655–65; < Latin
thēca, from Greek
thḗkē “case, cover,” akin to
tithénai “to place, put”
OTHER WORDS FROM theca
the·cal, adjectiveWords nearby theca
thebaid,
thebaine,
theban,
thebe,
thebes,
theca,
theca cordis,
theca folliculi,
theca-cell tumor,
thecal,
thecal sac
Example sentences from the Web for thecal
These two types are, in the main, correlated with two gradual differentiations in the minute structure of the thecal plates.
At the same time the thecal plates degenerated into spicules.
The brachia rise from a corresponding number of thecal plates, “radials (RR).”
British Dictionary definitions for thecal
theca
/ (ˈθiːkə) /
noun plural -cae (-siː)
botany
an enclosing organ, cell, or spore case, esp the capsule of a moss
zoology
a hard outer covering, such as the cup-shaped container of a coral polyp
Derived forms of theca
thecal or thecate, adjectiveWord Origin for theca
C17: from Latin
thēca, from Greek
thēkē case; related to Greek
tithenai to place
Medical definitions for thecal (1 of 2)
thecal
[ thē′kəl ]
adj.
Of or relating to a sheath, especially a tendon sheath.
Medical definitions for thecal (2 of 2)
theca
[ thē′kə ]
n. pl. the•cae (-sē′, -kē′)
A case, covering, or sheath, such as the outer covering of the cocoon of certain insects.
Scientific definitions for thecal
theca
[ thē′kə ]
Plural thecae (thē′sē′, -kē′)
A case, covering, or sheath, such as the pollen sac of an anther, the spore case of a moss, or the outer covering of the pupa of certain insects.