Word Meanings - MEMBRANE - Book Publishers vocabulary database

A thin layer or fold of tissue, usually supported by a fibrous network, serving to cover or line some part or organ, and often secreting or absorbing certain fluids. Note: The term is also often applied to the thin, expanded parts, of

Additional info about word: MEMBRANE

A thin layer or fold of tissue, usually supported by a fibrous network, serving to cover or line some part or organ, and often secreting or absorbing certain fluids. Note: The term is also often applied to the thin, expanded parts, of various texture, both in animals and vegetables. Adventitious membrane, a membrane connecting parts not usually connected, or of a different texture from the ordinary connection; as, the membrane of a cicatrix. -- Jacob's membrane. See under Retina. -- Mucous membranes , the membranes lining passages and cavities which communicate with the exterior, as well as ducts and receptacles of secretion, and habitually secreting mucus. -- Schneiderian membrane. See Schneiderian. -- Serous membranes , the membranes, like the peritoneum and pleura, which line, or lie in, cavities having no obvious outlet, and secrete a serous fluid.

Related words: (words related to MEMBRANE)

• APPLICABLE
  Capable of being applied; fit or suitable to be applied; having relevance; as, this observation is applicable to the case under consideration. -- Ap"pli*ca*ble*ness, n. -- Ap"pli*ca*bly, adv.
• SUPPORTABLE
  Capable of being supported, maintained, or endured; endurable. -- Sup*port"a*ble*ness, n. -- Sup*port"a*bly, adv.
• ORGANISTA
  Any one of several South American wrens, noted for the sweetness of their song.
• SERVING
  a & n. from Serve. Serving board , a flat piece of wood used in serving ropes. -- Serving maid, a female servant; a maidservant. -- Serving mallet , a wooden instrument shaped like a mallet, used in serving ropes. -- Serving man, a male servant,
• SUPPORTATION
  Maintenance; support. Chaucer. Bacon.
• COVER-POINT
  The fielder in the games of cricket and lacrosse who supports "point."
• ORGANICALNESS
  The quality or state of being organic.
• SERVO-MOTOR
  A relay apparatus; specif.: An auxiliary motor, regulated by a hand lever, for quickly and easily moving the reversing gear of a large marine engine into any desired position indicated by that of the hand lever, which controls the valve
• APPLICATIVE
  Having of being applied or used; applying; applicatory; practical. Bramhall. -- Ap"pli*ca*tive*ly, adv.
• COVERLET
  The uppermost cover of a bed or of any piece of furniture. Lay her in lilies and in violets . . . And odored sheets and arras coverlets. Spenser.
• SERVILELY
  In a servile manner; slavishly.
• SECRETE
  To separate from the blood and elaborate by the process of secretion; to elaborate and emit as a secretion. See Secretion. Why one set of cells should secrete bile, another urea, and so on, we do not known. Carpenter. Syn. -- To conceal; hide. See
• EXPAND
  To become widely opened, spread apart, dilated, distended, or enlarged; as, flowers expand in the spring; metals expand by heat; the heart expands with joy. Dryden.
• ORGANOLOGY
  1. The science of organs or of anything considered as an organic structure. The science of style, as an organ of thought, of style in relation to the ideas and feelings, might be called the organology of style. De Quincey. 2. That branch of biology
• ORGANDIE; ORGANDY
  A kind of transparent light muslin.
• APPLICANCY
  The quality or state of being applicable.
• LAYERING
  A propagating by layers. Gardner.
• ABSORBING
  Swallowing, engrossing; as, an absorbing pursuit. -- Ab*sorb"ing, adv.
• TISSUED
  Clothed in, or adorned with, tissue; also, variegated; as, tissued flowers. Cowper. And crested chiefs and tissued dames Assembled at the clarion's call. T. Warton.
• ORGANOGRAPHIST
  One versed in organography.
• DISSERVE
  To fail to serve; to do injury or mischief to; to damage; to hurt; to harm. Have neither served nor disserved the interests of any party. Jer. Taylor. (more info) Etym:
• UNDERSECRETARY
  A secretary who is subordinate to the chief secretary; an assistant secretary; as, an undersecretary of the Treasury.
• RESERVE
  1. To keep back; to retain; not to deliver, make over, or disclose. "I have reserved to myself nothing." Shak. 2. Hence, to keep in store for future or special use; to withhold from present use for another purpose or time; to keep; to retain. Gen.
• RECOVER
  To cover again. Sir W. Scott.
• WAYLAYER
  One who waylays another.
• DESERVEDNESS
  Meritoriousness.
• UNAPPLIABLE
  Inapplicable. Milton.
• ASCERTAINMENT
  The act of ascertaining; a reducing to certainty; a finding out by investigation; discovery. The positive ascertainment of its limits. Burke.
• CONSERVATIONAL
  Tending to conserve; preservative.
• ASCERTAINABLE
  That may be ascertained. -- As`cer*tain"a*ble*ness, n. -- As`cer*tain"a*bly, adv.
• REAPPLICATION
  The act of reapplying, or the state of being reapplied.