|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
cuticle
cuticle
1. (in botany) The continuous waxy layer that covers the aerial parts of a plant. Composed mainly of cutin, it is secreted by the epidermis and its primary function is to prevent water loss. 2. (in zoology) A layer of horny noncellular material covering, and secreted by, the epidermis of many invertebrates. It is usually made of a collagen-like protein or of chitin and its main function is protection. In arthropods it is also strong enough to act as a skeleton (see exoskeleton) and in insects it reduces water loss. Growth is allowed by moulting of the cuticle (see ecdysis). |
|
|
Cite this article
"cuticle." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "cuticle." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-cuticle.html "cuticle." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-cuticle.html |
|
cuticle
cu·ti·cle / ˈkyoōtikəl/ • n. 1. the outer layer of living tissue, in particular: ∎ Bot. & Zool. a protective and waxy or hard layer covering the epidermis of a plant, invertebrate, or shell. ∎ the outer cellular layer of a hair. ∎ Zool. another term for epidermis. 2. the dead skin at the base of a fingernail or toenail. DERIVATIVES: cu·tic·u·lar / kyoōˈtikyələr/ adj. |
|
|
Cite this article
"cuticle." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "cuticle." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-cuticle.html "cuticle." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-cuticle.html |
|
cuticle
cuticle
1. The impervious covering to the outer walls of the epidermal cells of aerial plant organs, composed of cutin, cutan, or a mixture of both. 2. The outer layer of an insect, secreted by epidermal cells; it has a complex structure that varies according to species. See SKELETAL MATERIAL. |
|
|
Cite this article
AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "cuticle." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "cuticle." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-cuticle.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "cuticle." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-cuticle.html |
|
cuticle
cuticle Exposed, outer layer of an animal. In humans, this refers to the epidermis, especially the dead skin at the edge of fingers. In botany, it refers to the waxy layer on the outer surface of epidermal cells of leaves and stems of vascular plants. It helps to prevent excessive water loss.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"cuticle." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "cuticle." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-cuticle.html "cuticle." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-cuticle.html |
|
cuticle
cuticle In plants, a thin, waxy, protective layer covering the surface of the leaves and stems. In animals, a layer covering, and secreted by, the epidermis. In invertebrates, it is mainly protective against mechanical or (in endoparasites, see parasitism) chemical damage.
|
|
|
Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "cuticle." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "cuticle." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-cuticle.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "cuticle." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-cuticle.html |
|
cuticle
cuticle (kew-ti-kŭl) n.
1. the epidermis of the skin. 2. a layer of solid or semisolid material that is secreted by and covers an epithelium. 3. a layer of cells, such as the outer layer of cells in a hair. |
|
|
Cite this article
"cuticle." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "cuticle." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-cuticle.html "cuticle." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-cuticle.html |
|
cuticle
cuticle (adj. cuticular) A layer covering, and secreted by, the epidermis. In invertebrates, it is mainly protective against mechanical or (in endoparasites, see PARASITISM) chemical damage. See EXOSKELETON.
|
|
|
Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "cuticle." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "cuticle." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-cuticle.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "cuticle." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-cuticle.html |
|
cuticle
cuticle A thin waxy, protective layer covering the surface of the leaves and stems of plants.
|
|
|
Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "cuticle." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "cuticle." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-cuticle.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "cuticle." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-cuticle.html |
|
cuticle
cuticle epidermis. XVII. — L. cutīcula, dim. of cutis; see CUTANEOUS.
|
|
|
Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "cuticle." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "cuticle." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-cuticle.html T. F. HOAD. "cuticle." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-cuticle.html |
|
cuticle
cuticle
•cackle, crackle, grackle, hackle, jackal, mackle, shackle, tackle
•ankle, rankle
•Gaskell, mascle, paschal
•tabernacle • ramshackle
•débâcle, diarchal, matriarchal, monarchal, patriarchal, sparkle
•rascal
•deckle, freckle, heckle, Jekyll, shekel, speckle
•faecal (US fecal), treacle
•chicle, fickle, mickle, nickel, pickle, prickle, sickle, strickle, tickle, trickle
•besprinkle, crinkle, sprinkle, tinkle, twinkle, winkle, wrinkle
•fiscal
•laical, Pharisaical
•vehicle • stoical • cubicle • radical
•medical, paramedical
•Druidical, juridical, veridical
•syndical
•methodical, periodical, rhapsodical, synodical
•Talmudical • graphical • pontifical
•magical, tragical
•strategical
•alogical, illogical, logical
•dramaturgical, liturgical, metallurgical, surgical
•anarchical, hierarchical, monarchical, oligarchical
•psychical
•angelical, evangelical, helical
•umbilical • biblical • encyclical
•diabolical, follicle, hyperbolical, symbolical
•dynamical, hydrodynamical
•academical, agrochemical, alchemical, biochemical, chemical, petrochemical, photochemical, polemical
•inimical • rhythmical • seismical
•agronomical, anatomical, astronomical, comical, economical, gastronomical, physiognomical
•botanical, Brahmanical, mechanical, puritanical, sanicle, tyrannical
•ecumenical
•geotechnical, pyrotechnical, technical
•clinical, cynical, dominical, finical, Jacobinical, pinnacle, rabbinical
•canonical, chronicle, conical, ironical
•tunicle • pumpernickel • vernicle
•apical • epical
•atypical, prototypical, stereotypical, typical
•misanthropical, semi-tropical, subtropical, topical, tropical
•theatrical
•chimerical, clerical, hemispherical, hysterical, numerical, spherical
•calendrical
•asymmetrical, diametrical, geometrical, metrical, symmetrical, trimetrical
•electrical • ventricle
•empirical, lyrical, miracle, panegyrical, satirical
•cylindrical
•ahistorical, allegorical, categorical, historical, metaphorical, oratorical, phantasmagorical, rhetorical
•auricle • rubrical • curricle
•classical, fascicle, neoclassical
•farcical • vesicle
•indexical, lexical
•commonsensical, nonsensical
•bicycle, icicle, tricycle
•paradoxical • Popsicle • versicle
•anagrammatical, apostatical, emblematical, enigmatical, fanatical, grammatical, mathematical, piratical, prelatical, problematical, sabbatical
•impractical, practical, syntactical, tactical
•canticle
•ecclesiastical, fantastical
•article, particle
•alphabetical, arithmetical, heretical, hypothetical, metathetical, metical, parenthetical, poetical, prophetical, reticle, synthetical, theoretical
•dialectical
•conventicle, identical
•sceptical (US skeptical) • testicle
•analytical, apolitical, critical, cryptanalytical, diacritical, eremitical, geopolitical, hypercritical, hypocritical, political, socio-political, subcritical
•deistical, egoistical, logistical, mystical, papistical
•optical, synoptical
•aeronautical, nautical, vortical
•cuticle, pharmaceutical, therapeutical
•vertical • ethical • mythical • clavicle
•periwinkle • lackadaisical
•metaphysical, physical, quizzical
•whimsical • musical
•Carmichael, cervical, cycle, Michael
•unicycle • monocycle • motorcycle
•cockle, grockle
•corncockle • snorkel
•bifocal, focal, local, univocal, varifocal, vocal, yokel
•archducal, coucal, ducal, pentateuchal
•buckle, chuckle, knuckle, muckle, ruckle, suckle, truckle
•peduncle, uncle
•parbuckle • carbuncle • turnbuckle
•pinochle • furuncle • honeysuckle
•demoniacal, maniacal, megalomaniacal, paradisiacal, zodiacal
•manacle • barnacle • cenacle
•binnacle • monocle • epochal
•reciprocal
•coracle, oracle
•spectacle
•pentacle, tentacle
•receptacle • obstacle • equivocal
•circle, encircle
•semicircle
|
|
|
Cite this article
"cuticle." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "cuticle." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-cuticle.html "cuticle." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-cuticle.html |
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
