scleroderˈma or scleroderˈmia noun

Hardness and contraction of the body's connective tissue in which the skin becomes thickened by substitution of fibrous tissue for subcutaneous fat

scleroderˈmatous, scleroderˈmic or scleroderˈmous adjective

1. Hard-skinned
2. Relating to a scleroderm or to sclerodermia

scleroderˈmite noun

The integument of a segment in arthropods

sclēˈroid adjective (botany and zoology)

1. Hard
2. Hardened

sclerōˈma noun (pl scleromata /-rōˈmə-tə/ or scleroˈmas)

1. Hardening
2. Morbid hardening
3. A hardened area of mucous membrane or skin, eg forming nodules in the nose

scleromalacia /-mə-lāˈshi-ə/ noun

Thinning of the sclerotic coat resulting from inflammation

scleromˈeter noun

An instrument for measuring the hardness of minerals

sclerometˈric adjective

sclerophyll /sklērˈə-fil/ noun

1. A hard, leathery leaf
2. A woody plant, esp of hot, arid regions, with such leaves

sclerophyllˈous adjective

sclerophˈylly noun

Possession of sclerophylls

scleroprōˈtein noun

Insoluble protein forming the skeletal parts of tissues

scleroˈsal adjective

Affected with sclerosis

sclerose /sklə-rōsˈ or sklērˈ/ transitive verb

1. To harden
2. To affect with sclerosis

To become sclerotic

sclerosedˈ (or /sklērˈ/) adjective

sclerosis /sklə-rōˈsis/ noun (pl scleroˈses /-sēz/)

1. Hardening
2. Morbid hardening, eg of arteries by deposition of fatty plaques (medicine)
3. Hardening of tissue by thickening or lignification (botany) (disseminated sclerosis an older name for multiple sclerosis (see under multiple))

sclerōˈtal adjective

Sclerotic

A bony plate in the sclerotic of some animals

sclerotˈic adjective

1. Hard, firm
2. Of sclerosis
3. Sclerosed, affected with sclerosis
4. See also under sclera

The sclera, the fibrous outer membrane of the eyeball (also sclerotic coat)

sclerotin /sklēˈrə-tin/ noun

(in insects) a protein in the cuticle that becomes hard and dark

sclerōˈtioid or sclerōˈtial adjective

Of, relating to, or resembling a sclerotium

sclerotīˈtis noun

Inflammation of the sclerotic

sclerotium /sklə-rōˈshi-əm/ noun (pl sclerōˈtia)

A hard, tuberlike body consisting of a compact mass of hyphae, the resting stage of many fungi

sclerotizāˈtion or sclerotisāˈtion noun

scleˈrotize or scleˈrotise transitive verb (zoology)

To harden or darken

sclerotˈomy noun (medicine)

Incision into the sclera

sclēˈrous adjective

1. Hard or indurated
2. Ossified or bony