English
membrane
Etymology

Late Middle English, borrowed from Latin membrāna, from membrum + -āna.

Pronunciation
  • IPA: /ˈmɛm.bɹeɪn/
Noun

membrane (plural membranes)

  1. (anatomy, zootomy) A flexible enclosing or separating tissue forming a plane or film and separating two environments.
    Hyponyms: aperture membrane, basement membrane, Bruch's membrane, cyclitic membrane, Descemet's membrane, hyaloid membrane, Jacob's membrane, mucous membrane, nictating membrane, nictitating membrane, Reissner's membrane, ruptured membrane, Schneiderian membrane, serous membrane, synovial membrane, tectorial membrane, tympanic membrane, virginal membrane, Zinn's membrane
    1. A mechanical, thin, flat flexible part that can deform or vibrate when excited by an external force.
      Hyponym: single-ply membrane
    2. A flexible or semiflexible covering or waterproofing whose primary function is to exclude water.
    3. (biology) A microscopic double layer of lipids and proteins forming the boundary of cells or organelles.
      Hyponyms: cell membrane, haptogenic membrane, ion-selective membrane, nuclear membrane, plasma membrane
  2. A piece of parchment forming part of a roll.
Translations Translations

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