| Library / English Dictionary |
MEMBRANE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A thin pliable sheet of material
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("membrane" is a kind of...):
flat solid; sheet (a flat artifact that is thin relative to its length and width)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "membrane"):
drumhead; head (a membrane that is stretched taut over a drum)
gel; gelatin (a thin translucent membrane used over stage lights for color effects)
Derivation:
membranous (relating to or made of or similar to a membrane)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A pliable sheet of tissue that covers or lines or connects the organs or cells of animals or plants
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("membrane" is a kind of...):
animal tissue (the tissue in the bodies of animals)
Meronyms (substance of "membrane"):
phospholipid (any of various compounds composed of fatty acids and phosphoric acid and a nitrogenous base; an important constituent of membranes)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "membrane"):
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)
meninges; meninx (a membrane (one of 3) that envelops the brain and spinal cord)
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)
adventitia; tunic; tunica (an enveloping or covering membrane or layer of body tissue)
ependyma (thin epithelial membrane lining the ventricles of the brain and the spinal cord canal)
endosteum (vascular membrane that lines the inner surface of long bones)
endocranium (membrane lining the inside of the skull)
eardrum; myringa; tympanic membrane; tympanum (the membrane in the ear that vibrates to sound)
diaphragm; midriff ((anatomy) a muscular partition separating the abdominal and thoracic cavities; functions in respiration)
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)
ciliary body (the part of the tunic of the eye between the choroid coat and the iris)
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)
fetal membrane (any membrane that functions for the protection or nourishment or respiration or excretion of a developing fetus)
basilar membrane (a membrane in the cochlea that supports the organ of Corti)
axolemma (outer membrane covering an axon)
Bowman's capsule; capsula glomeruli; glomerular capsule (thin double membrane surrounding the glomerulus of a nephron)
web (membrane connecting the toes of some aquatic birds and mammals)
chorioallantoic membrane; chorioallantois (the very vascular fetal membrane composed of the fused chorion and adjacent wall of the allantois)
trophoblast (the membrane that forms the wall of the blastocyst in early development; aids implantation in the uterine wall)
Derivation:
membranous (characterized by formation of a membrane (or something resembling a membrane))
Context examples:
A ribosome that is associated with the membrane of the rough endoplasmic reticulum.
(Membrane-Attached Ribosome, NCI Thesaurus)
This technology, which was applied on an industrial scale at the facilities of Biomasa del Guadalquivir, uses a semi-permeable cover (membrane) system that prevents unpleasant smells from escaping and shortens the process time.
(Scientists validate a new technology that transforms sewage sludge into fertilizer more efficiently, University of Granada)
A. odontolyticus is found in mucus membranes and is an opportunistic pathogen.
(Actinomyces odontolyticus, NCI Thesaurus)
Mammalian cell motility requires actin polymerization in the direction of movement to change membrane shape and extend cytoplasm into lamellipodia.
(Actin Branching Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)
Any one of three membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.
(Meninges, NCI Thesaurus)
This gene plays a role in both membrane transport and drug resistance.
(ABCB5 Gene, NCI Thesaurus)
Researchers have found a way to use a thin membrane to turn Australian-made hydrogen into ammonia.
(Cars Powered by New Fuel Type Tested in Australia, VOA)
Also characteristic are outward projections of the membrane between the epithelial deposits in the form of "spikes".
(Membranous Glomerulonephritis, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)
This protein plays a role in regulating membrane lysophospholipid levels.
(Acyl-Protein Thioesterase 1, NCI Thesaurus)
This drug also prevents histamine-induced pain and itching of the skin and mucous membranes.
(Acrivastine, NCI Thesaurus)
