any of a series of dorsal paired segments of mesoderm occurring along the notochord in vertebrate embryos. It develops into muscle and bone in the adult animal
2. zoology another name for metamere
Derived forms
somital (ˈsəʊmɪtəl) or somitic (səʊˈmɪtɪk)
adjective
Word origin
C19: from Greek sōma a body
somite in American English
(ˈsoʊˌmaɪt)
noun
1.
metamere
2.
a blocklike segment of mesodermal tissue in the vertebrate embryo, giving rise to muscle, bone, etc.