Main Entry:

stro·ma

Pronunciation:

\ˈstrō-mə\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural stro·ma·ta \-mə-tə\

Etymology:

New Latin stromat-, stroma, from Latin, bed covering, from Greek strōmat-, strōma, from stornynai to spread out — more at strew

Date:

circa 1832

1 a: a compact mass of fungal hyphae producing perithecia or pycnidia b: the colorless proteinaceous matrix of a chloroplast in which the chlorophyll-containing lamellae are embedded2 a: the supporting framework of an animal organ typically consisting of connective tissue b: the spongy protoplasmic framework of some cells (as a red blood cell)

— stro·mal \-məl\ adjective