pa·ren·chy·ma
(pə-rĕng′kə-mə)n.
1. Anatomy The tissue characteristic of an organ, as distinguished from associated connective or supporting tissues.
2. Botany A simple plant tissue, composed of thin-walled cells and forming the greater part of leaves, roots, the pulp of fruit, and the pith of stems.
[New Latin, from Greek parenkhuma, visceral flesh, from parenkhein, to pour in beside : para-, beside; see para-1 + en-, in; see en in Indo-European roots + khein, to pour; see gheu- in Indo-European roots.]
pa·ren′chy·mal, par′en·chym′a·tous (păr′ĕn-kĭm′ə-təs) adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
parenchyma
(pəˈrɛŋkɪmə)n
1. (Botany) unspecialized plant tissue consisting of simple thin-walled cells with intervening air spaces: constitutes the greater part of fruits, stems, roots, etc
2. (Zoology) animal tissue that constitutes the essential or specialized part of an organ as distinct from the blood vessels, connective tissue, etc, associated with it
3. (Zoology) loosely-packed tissue filling the spaces between the organs in lower animals such as flatworms
[C17: via New Latin from Greek parenkhuma something poured in beside, from para-1 + enkhuma infusion]
parenchymatous, parenchymal adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
pa•ren•chy•ma
(pəˈrɛŋ kə mə)n.
1. the fundamental tissue of plants, composed of thin-walled cells able to divide.
2. the functional tissue of an animal organ as distinguished from its connective or supporting tissue.
3. a spongy connective tissue of certain invertebrates.
[1645–55; < New Latin < Greek parénchyma literally, something poured in beside =par- par- + énchyma infusion; see mesenchyme]
pa•ren′chy•mal, par•en•chym•a•tous (ˌpær əŋˈkɪm ə təs) adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
pa·ren·chy·ma
(pə-rĕng′kə-mə) The basic tissue of plants, consisting of thin-walled, nonspecialized cells that sometimes adapt to specialized functions. The internal layers of leaves, the cortex and pith of the stem, and the soft parts of fruits are made of parenchyma. In higher plants, parenchyma supports the plant body, roots, and leaves; it also stores water and contains chloroplasts in which photosynthesis takes place.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Noun | 1. |  parenchyma - animal tissue that constitutes the essential part of an organ as contrasted with e.g. connective tissue and blood vesselsanimal tissue - the tissue in the bodies of animals |
| 2. | parenchyma - the primary tissue of higher plants composed of thin-walled cells that remain capable of cell division even when mature; constitutes the greater part of leaves, roots, the pulp of fruits, and the pith of stems plant tissue - the tissue of a plant pith - soft spongelike central cylinder of the stems of most flowering plants chlorenchyma - parenchyma whose cells contain chloroplasts root - (botany) the usually underground organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes; absorbs water and mineral salts; usually it anchors the plant to the ground |
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