Main Entry:

mer·i·stem

Pronunciation:

\ˈmer-ə-ˌstem\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Greek meristos divided (from merizein to divide, from meros) + English -em (as in system)

Date:

1872

: a formative plant tissue usually made up of small cells capable of dividing indefinitely and giving rise to similar cells or to cells that differentiate to produce the definitive tissues and organs

— mer·i·ste·mat·ic \ˌmer-əs-tə-ˈma-tik\ adjective

— mer·i·ste·mat·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb