mem·brane (m m br n )n. 1. Biology a. A thin, pliable layer of tissue covering surfaces or separating or connecting regions, structures, or organs of an animal or a plant. b. Cell membrane. 2. A piece of parchment. 3. Chemistry A thin sheet of natural or synthetic material that is permeable to substances in solution. [Latin membr na, skin, from membrum, member of the body.]mem bra·nal (-br -nl) adj. |
membrane [ˈmɛmbreɪn]
n
1. any thin pliable sheet of material
2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) a pliable sheetlike usually fibrous tissue that covers, lines, or connects plant and animal organs or cells
3. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) Biology a double layer of lipid, containing some proteins, that surrounds biological cells and some of their internal structures
4. (Physics / Atomic Physics) Physics a two-dimensional entity postulated as a fundamental constituent of matter in superstring theories of particle physics
5. (Historical Terms) a skin of parchment forming part of a roll
[from Latin membrāna skin covering a part of the body, from membrum member]
| membrane (mmbrn) 1. A thin, flexible layer of tissue that covers, lines, separates, or connects cells or parts of an organism. Membranes are usually made of layers of phospholipids containing suspended protein molecules and are permeable to water and fat-soluble substances. 2. See cell membrane. 3. Chemistry A thin sheet of natural or synthetic material that is permeable to substances in solution. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  membrane - a thin pliable sheet of material flat solid, sheet - a flat artifact that is thin relative to its length and width |
| 2. | membrane - a pliable sheet of tissue that covers or lines or connects the organs or cells of animals or plants trophoblast - the membrane that forms the wall of the blastocyst in early development; aids implantation in the uterine wall; "after implantation of the blastocyst in the uterine wall the trophoblast divides into two layers, the chorion and the placenta" chorioallantoic membrane, chorioallantois - the very vascular fetal membrane composed of the fused chorion and adjacent wall of the allantois web - membrane connecting the toes of some aquatic birds and mammals Bowman's capsule, capsula glomeruli, glomerular capsule - thin double membrane surrounding the glomerulus of a nephron animal tissue - the tissue in the bodies of animals axolemma - outer membrane covering an axon basilar membrane - a membrane in the cochlea that supports the organ of Corti fetal membrane - any membrane that functions for the protection or nourishment or respiration or excretion of a developing fetus choroid, choroid coat - a highly vascular membrane in the eye between the retina and the sclera; a dark pigmentation minimizes the scattering of light inside the eye ciliary body - the part of the tunic of the eye between the choroid coat and the iris; "the ciliary body produces aqueous humor" cornea - the transparent dome-shaped anterior portion of the outer covering of the eye; it covers the iris and pupil and is continuous with the sclera diaphragm, midriff - (anatomy) a muscular partition separating the abdominal and thoracic cavities; functions in respiration endocranium - membrane lining the inside of the skull endosteum - vascular membrane that lines the inner surface of long bones ependyma - thin epithelial membrane lining the ventricles of the brain and the spinal cord canal fertilization membrane - the membrane that forms around a fertilized ovum and prevents penetration by additional spermatozoon hyaloid, hyaloid membrane - the transparent membrane enveloping the vitreous humor of the eye and separating it from the retina intima - the innermost membrane of an organ (especially the inner lining of an artery or vein or lymphatic vessel) iris - muscular diaphragm that controls the size of the pupil which in turn controls the amount of light that enters the eye; it forms the colored portion of the eye lamella - a thin membrane that is one of the calcified layers that form bones mucosa, mucous membrane - mucus-secreting membrane lining all body cavities or passages that communicate with the exterior periosteum - a dense fibrous membrane covering the surface of bones (except at their extremities) and serving as an attachment for tendons and muscles; contains nerves and blood vessels that nourish the enclosed bone perithelium - tissue layer around small blood vessels retina - the innermost light-sensitive membrane covering the back wall of the eyeball; it is continuous with the optic nerve sarcolemma - an extensible membrane enclosing the contractile substance of a muscle fiber semipermeable membrane - a membrane (as a cell membrane) that allows some molecules to pass through but not others serosa, serous membrane - a thin membrane lining the closed cavities of the body; has two layers with a space between that is filled with serous fluid synovial membrane, synovium - a thin membrane in synovial (freely moving) joints that lines the joint capsule and secretes synovial fluid phospholipid - any of various compounds composed of fatty acids and phosphoric acid and a nitrogenous base; an important constituent of membranes |
membrane
Translations
membrane
n → Membran(e) f
n membrane [ˈmembrein]
a thin film or layer of tissue that covers or lines parts of the body, forms the outside of cells etc. membraan غِشاء، أغْشِيَه мембрана membrána membran; hinde die Membran μεμβράνη membrana kile, kelme پوسته kalvo membrane מֶמבּרָנָה झिल्ली membrane, opna hártya selaput himna membrana 膜 박막(薄膜) membrana, plėvelė, apvalkalas membrāna; plēve; apvalks membran vlies hinne, membran błona membrana membrană оболочка; перепонка membrána membrana membrana membran, hinna เยื่อบุผิว zar, perde 膜 оболонка; пліва جھلی، غشا màng 膜
How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
| ?Page tools | ||
|---|---|---|
|