cuticle

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English[edit]

English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Etymology[edit]

From Middle French cuticule, from Latin cuticula (cuticle, skin).

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ˈkjuːtɪkəl/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪkəl

Noun[edit]

cuticle (plural cuticles)

  1. The outermost layer of the skin of vertebrates; the epidermis.
  2. The strip of hardened skin at the base and sides of a fingernail or toenail.
    • 1992, Toni Morrison, Jazz, Vintage (2016), page 38:
      By that time she has pushed back his cuticles, cleaned his nails and painted them with clear polish.
  3. Dead or cornified epidermis.
  4. (zoology, botany) A noncellular protective covering outside the epidermis of many invertebrates and plants.
  5. A thin skin formed on the surface of a liquid.

Synonyms[edit]

  • (zoology, botany) (outer protective covering): cuticula

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

See also[edit]