epidermis

C2 Topic:The Human Body

US /ˌepəˈdɝmɪs/ UK /ˌepɪˈdɜːmɪs/ See IPA manual

Freq #49396

Meanings

1

noun
the outer layer of the skin in vertebrate animals, lying above the dermis

New cells formed in the lower epidermis gradually move toward the skin's surface.
2

noun
the outer protective layer of cells covering a plant, leaf, root, or invertebrate body

Stomata in the leaf epidermis regulate the exchange of gases.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the outer layer of the skin... outer skinepithelial layer

2 noun · the outer protective layer... surface tissueouter cell layer

Word family

Derived forms epidermalepidermicepidermoidsubepidermis

Related forms dermisskinepitheliumcuticle

Etymology

Borrowed through Latin epidermis from Greek epidermis, 'outer skin,' formed from epi-, 'upon or over,' and derma, 'skin.' Anatomy applies it to the outer skin above the dermis, while botany and zoology use it for comparable protective surface layers.

Topics

The Human Body

External links

# epidermis

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌepəˈdɝmɪs/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌepɪˈdɜːmɪs/
**Frequency rank:** 49396

## Meanings
1. the outer layer of the skin in vertebrate animals, lying above the dermis
2. the outer protective layer of cells covering a plant, leaf, root, or invertebrate body

## Examples
- New cells formed in the lower epidermis gradually move toward the skin's surface.
- Stomata in the leaf epidermis regulate the exchange of gases.

## Synonyms
- outer skin
- epithelial layer
- surface tissue
- outer cell layer

## Derived Forms
- epidermal
- epidermic
- epidermoid
- subepidermis

## Related Forms
- dermis
- skin
- epithelium
- cuticle

## Roots and Affixes
- Affix: epi- - on

## Etymology
Borrowed through Latin epidermis from Greek epidermis, 'outer skin,' formed from epi-, 'upon or over,' and derma, 'skin.' Anatomy applies it to the outer skin above the dermis, while botany and zoology use it for comparable protective surface layers.

## Topics
- The Human Body

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