释义 |
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024ep•i•the•li•um (ep′ə thē′lē əm),USA pronunciation n., pl. -li•ums, -li•a (-lē ə).USA pronunciation [Biol.]- Biology, Anatomyany 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.
- Greek epi- epi- + thēl(é̄) teat + Neo-Latin -ium -ium
- Neo-Latin
- 1740–50
ep′i•the′li•al, adj. Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: epithelium /ˌɛpɪˈθiːlɪəm/ n ( pl -liums, -lia / -lɪə/)- an animal tissue consisting of one or more layers of closely packed cells covering the external and internal surfaces of the body. The cells vary in structure according to their function, which may be protective, secretory, or absorptive
Etymology: 18th Century: New Latin, from epi- + Greek thēlē nippleˌepiˈthelial adj |