sessile

views updated May 14 2018

ses·sile / ˈsesəl; -īl/ • adj. Biol. (of an organism, e.g., a barnacle) fixed in one place; immobile. ∎  (of a plant or animal structure) attached directly by its base without a stalk or peduncle: sporangia may be stalked or sessile.

sessile

views updated Jun 11 2018

sessile In zoology, describing an animal that remains fixed in one place. Sedentary animals, such as barnacles, limpets and mussels, are usually permanently attached to a surface. The term sessile is also used to describe the eyes of crustaceans that lack stalks and sit directly on the animal's head. In botany, sessile describes any structure that has no stalk (in cases where one might be expected) and grows directly from a stem.

sessile

views updated May 29 2018

sessile (path.) adhering close to the surface; (nat. hist.) immediately attached to the base XVIII; sedentary XIX. — L. sessilis, f. sess-, pp. stem of sedēre SIT; see -ILE.

sessile

views updated May 29 2018

sessile
1. Describing animals that live permanently attached to a surface, i.e. sedentary animals. Many marine animals, e.g. sea anemones and limpets, are sessile.

2. Describing any organ that does not possess a stalk where one might be expected. For example, the leaves of the oak (Quercus robur) are attached directly to the twigs.

sessile

views updated May 17 2018

sessile
1. Lacking a stalk.

2. Attached to a substrate; non-motile. Compare sedentary.

sessile

views updated May 09 2018

sessile
1. Lacking a stalk.

2. Attached to a substrate; non- motile.

sessile

views updated May 14 2018

sessile Attached to a substrate; nonmotile. Compare SEDENTARY.

sessile

views updated May 08 2018

sessile
1. Lacking a stalk.

2. Attached to a substrate; non-motile.

sessile

views updated Jun 11 2018

sessile (se-syl) adj. (of a tumour) attached directly by its base without a stalk.