theca

[ thee-kuh ]
/ ˈθi kə /

noun, plural the·cae [thee-see] /ˈθi si/.

a case or receptacle.
Botany, Mycology.
  1. a sac, cell, or capsule.
  2. 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, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for thecal

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, adjective

Word 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
[ thēkəl ]

adj.

Of or relating to a sheath, especially a tendon sheath.

Medical definitions for thecal (2 of 2)

theca
[ thēkə ]

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
[ thēkə ]

Plural thecae (thēsē′, -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.