cuticle

C2 Topic:The Human Body

US /ˈkjuːtɪkəl/ UK /ˈkjuːtɪkəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #57019

Meanings

1

noun
the thin layer of dead skin at the base and sides of a fingernail or toenail

She softened each cuticle before carefully pushing it back.
2

noun
a tough, flexible outer covering secreted by many invertebrates, including arthropods

The insect sheds its cuticle as it grows.
3

noun
a waxy protective layer covering the epidermis of leaves and young plant stems

A thick cuticle helps the leaf reduce water loss in dry weather.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the thin layer of dead skin... nail cuticledead skin

2 noun · a tough, flexible outer... outer coveringexoskeletal layer

3 noun · a waxy protective layer... waxy layerprotective coating

Word family

Derived forms cuticularepicuticleendocuticleexocuticle

Related forms skin epidermis nailexoskeletoncutin

Etymology

Through French cuticule from Latin cuticula, 'little skin,' the diminutive of cutis, 'skin.' The word first meant a thin outer skin and was later specialized for the nail margin and for protective outer layers in zoology and botany.

Topics

The Human Body

External links

# cuticle

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈkjuːtɪkəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈkjuːtɪkəl/
**Frequency rank:** 57019

## Meanings
1. the thin layer of dead skin at the base and sides of a fingernail or toenail
2. a tough, flexible outer covering secreted by many invertebrates, including arthropods
3. a waxy protective layer covering the epidermis of leaves and young plant stems

## Examples
- She softened each cuticle before carefully pushing it back.
- The insect sheds its cuticle as it grows.
- A thick cuticle helps the leaf reduce water loss in dry weather.

## Synonyms
- nail cuticle
- dead skin
- outer covering
- exoskeletal layer
- waxy layer
- protective coating

## Derived Forms
- cuticular
- epicuticle
- endocuticle
- exocuticle

## Related Forms
- skin
- epidermis
- nail
- exoskeleton
- cutin

## Etymology
Through French cuticule from Latin cuticula, 'little skin,' the diminutive of cutis, 'skin.' The word first meant a thin outer skin and was later specialized for the nail margin and for protective outer layers in zoology and botany.

## Topics
- The Human Body

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