indusium Hear it!

indusium definition

in·du·sium (in do̵̅o̅′zē əm, -dyo̵̅o̅′-; -z̸hē-)

noun pl. indusia -·sia (-ə)

  1. Anat., Zool.
    1. any covering membrane, as the amnion
    2. a case enclosing an insect larva or pupa
  2. Bot.
    1. a membranous outgrowth of the leaf epidermis in certain ferns, covering the sporangia
    2. the annulus of certain fungi

Etymology: ModL < L, undergarment, tunic; assoc. with induere, to put on (see indue), but prob. < Gr endysis, dress, clothing < endyein, to go into, put on

Related Forms:

  • indusial in·du′·sial (-əl) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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