First Known Use: 1748
Dictionary
epithelium
noun ep·i·the·li·um \ˌe-pə-ˈthē-lē-əm\
plural ep·i·the·lia\-lē-ə\
Definition of EPITHELIUM
1
: a membranous cellular tissue that covers a free surface or lines a tube or cavity of an animal body and serves especially to enclose and protect the other parts of the body, to produce secretions and excretions, and to function in assimilation
2
: a usually thin layer of parenchyma that lines a cavity or tube of a plant
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Origin of EPITHELIUM
New Latin, from epi- + Greek thēlē nipple — more at feminine
Medical Dictionary
epithelium
noun ep·i·the·li·um \ˌep-ə-ˈthē-lē-əm\
plural ep·i·the·lia \-lē-ə\
Medical Definition of EPITHELIUM
: a membranous cellular tissue that covers a free surface or lines a tube or cavity of an animal body and serves especially to enclose and protect the other parts of the body, to produce secretions and excretions, and to function in assimilation
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