membranous
adjective
mem·bra·nous
ˈmem-brə-nəs 
1
: of, relating to, or resembling membrane
2
: thin, pliable, and often somewhat transparent
membranous leaves
3
: characterized or accompanied by the formation of a usually abnormal membrane or membranous layer
membranous croup
membranously
adverb
Examples of membranous in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The tiny baby octopuses—each about the size of a nickel—emerged from soft, membranous eggs, clutched in their mothers’ protective embrace.
—
Ashley Balzer Vigil, Scientific American, 3 July 2023
These ailments include myocarditis, neuromyelitis optica, primary membranous nephropathy and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
—Maddie Bender, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2021
All three musicians came of age in the era of shuffling playlists and collapsing styles, when the boundaries between rock, folk, hip-hop, and electronic became so membranous that the categories began to lose meaning.
—Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2023
Her dreams are red, membranous throbs.
—Helen Shaw, Vulture, 25 June 2021
Two Yi qi stretch their membranous wings.
—National Geographic, 15 Sep. 2020
When isolated and exposed to water, most phospholipids can self-assemble into membranous structures.
—Discover Magazine, 31 Jan. 2013
But instead of feathery wings like its close relatives, Yi qi flew on bat-like membranous wings.
—K. N. Smith, Discover Magazine, 29 Apr. 2015
Billions of years ago, the same challenge must have faced the first self-organizing membranous bundles of chemicals arising spontaneously from inanimate materials.
—Quanta Magazine, 23 Nov. 2021
Ashley Balzer Vigil, Scientific American, 3 July 2023
These ailments include myocarditis, neuromyelitis optica, primary membranous nephropathy and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
—Maddie Bender, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2021
All three musicians came of age in the era of shuffling playlists and collapsing styles, when the boundaries between rock, folk, hip-hop, and electronic became so membranous that the categories began to lose meaning.
—Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2023
Her dreams are red, membranous throbs.
—Helen Shaw, Vulture, 25 June 2021
Two Yi qi stretch their membranous wings.
—National Geographic, 15 Sep. 2020
When isolated and exposed to water, most phospholipids can self-assemble into membranous structures.
—Discover Magazine, 31 Jan. 2013
But instead of feathery wings like its close relatives, Yi qi flew on bat-like membranous wings.
—K. N. Smith, Discover Magazine, 29 Apr. 2015
Billions of years ago, the same challenge must have faced the first self-organizing membranous bundles of chemicals arising spontaneously from inanimate materials.
—Quanta Magazine, 23 Nov. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'membranous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing membranous
Dictionary Entries Near membranous
Cite this Entry
“Membranous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/membranous. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Medical Definition
membranous
adjective
mem·bra·nous
ˈmem-brə-nəs
1
: of, relating to, or resembling membranes
a membranous lining
2
: characterized or accompanied by the formation of a usually abnormal membrane or membranous layer
membranous croup
membranously
adverb
More from Merriam-Webster on membranous
Britannica English: Translation of membranous for Arabic Speakers
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