meristem

mer·i·stem

noun \ˈmer-ə-ˌstem\

Definition of MERISTEM

: 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

Origin of MERISTEM

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

First Known Use: 1872

Rhymes with MERISTEM

ABM, anadem, Angoulême, apothegm, apothem, Bethlehem, diadem, exanthem, fax modem, found poem, ibidem, OEM, prose poem, SAM, stratagem, tone poem