Nearby Words

epithelia

[ep-uh-thee-lee-uhm] Origin

ep·i·the·li·um

[ep-uh-thee-lee-uhm]
noun, plural -li·ums, -li·a [-lee-uh] . Biology.
any animal tissue that covers a surface, or lines a cavity or the like, and that, in addition, performs any of various secretory, transporting, or regulatory functions.

Origin:
1740–50; < Neo-Latin < Greek epi- epi- + thēl() teat + Neo-Latin -ium -ium

ep·i·the·li·al, adjective
in·ter·ep·i·the·li·al, adjective
non·ep·i·the·li·al, adjective
sub·ep·i·the·li·al, adjective
un·ep·i·the·li·al, adjective
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Epithelia is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

epithelium
Mod.L., from Gk. epi upon + thele teat, nipple (see fecund). Related: Epithelial.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

epithelium ep·i·the·li·um (ěp'ə-thē'lē-əm)
n. pl. ep·i·the·li·ums or ep·i·the·li·a (-lē-ə)
Membranous tissue composed of one or more layers of cells separated by very little intercellular substance and forming the covering of most internal and external surfaces of the body and its organs.


ep'i·the'li·al adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
epithelium   (ěp'ə-thē'lē-əm)  Pronunciation Key 
Plural epithelia
The thin, membranous tissue that lines most of the internal and external surfaces of an animal's body. Epithelium is composed of one or more layers of densely packed cells. In vertebrates, it lines the outer layer of the skin (epidermis), the surface of most body cavities, and the lumen of fluid-filled organs, such as the gut or intestine.

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