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dehiscence - 6 dictionary results

de⋅his⋅cence

  [di-his-uhns]
Use dehiscence in a Sentence
–noun
1. Biology. the release of materials by the splitting open of an organ or tissue.
2. Botany. the natural bursting open of capsules, fruits, anthers, etc., for the discharge of their contents.
3. Surgery. the bursting open of a surgically closed wound.
Origin:
1820–30; < NL dēhiscentia, equiv. to L dēhiscent- s. of dēhiscēns, prp. of dēhiscere (see dehisce ) + -ia; see -ence

Related forms:
de⋅his⋅cent, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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de·his·cence   (dĭ-hĭs'əns)   
n.  
  1. Botany The spontaneous opening at maturity of a plant structure, such as a fruit, anther, or sporangium, to release its contents.
  2. Medicine A rupture or splitting open, as of a surgical wound, or of an organ or structure to discharge its contents.
de·his'cent adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Dehiscence

De*his"cence\, n. [Cf. F. d['e]hiscence.]

1. The act of gaping.

2. (Biol.) A gaping or bursting open along a definite line of attachment or suture, without tearing, as in the opening of pods, or the bursting of capsules at maturity so as to emit seeds, etc.; also, the bursting open of follicles, as in the ovaries of animals, for the expulsion of their contents.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Main Entry: de·his·cence
Pronunciation: di-'his-&n(t)s
Function: noun
: the parting of the sutured lips of a surgical wounddehiscence resulting from infection>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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dehiscence de·his·cence (dĭ-hĭs'əns)
n.
A bursting open or splitting along natural or sutured lines.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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dehiscence   (dĭ-hĭs'əns)  Pronunciation Key 
The spontaneous opening at maturity of a plant structure, such as a fruit, anther, or sporangium, to release its contents. Compare indehiscence.

dehisce verb
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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