membrane

noun

mem·​brane ˈmem-ˌbrān 

1

: a thin soft pliable sheet or layer especially of animal or plant origin

2

: a piece of parchment forming part of a roll

membraned

ˈmem-ˌbrānd 

adjective

Examples of membrane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

They are brought to her with finger fractures, dehydration and damaged membranes, usually at the paws of outdoor cats. —Jack Armstrong, The Arizona Republic, 17 Aug. 2024

The water helps to separate the egg from the membrane and also washes off any of the pesky eggshell pieces. —Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 7 Aug. 2024

The final part of the puzzle is a Nafion 117 membrane for selective proton transfer. —Paul Ridden, New Atlas, 5 Aug. 2024

Mono-mono twins are often misdiagnosed in the early weeks of pregnancy when the membrane is so thin as to be nearly invisible. —Pamela Prindle Fierro, Parents, 30 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin membrana skin, parchment, from membrum

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing membrane

• basement membrane
• basilar membrane
• cell membrane
• embryonic membrane
• fertilization membrane
• inter-membrane
• mucous membrane
• nictitating membrane
• nuclear membrane
• periodontal membrane
• plasma membrane
• serous membrane
• tympanic membrane
• unit membrane
• vitelline membrane

Kids Definition

membrane

noun

mem·​brane ˈmem-ˌbrān 

: a thin soft flexible sheet or layer especially of a plant or animal part (as a cell, tissue, or organ)

membranous

ˈmem-brə-nəs

adjective

Medical Definition

membrane

noun

mem·​brane ˈmem-ˌbrān 

1

: a thin soft pliable sheet or layer especially of animal or plant origin

2

: a limiting protoplasmic surface or interface see nuclear membrane, plasma membrane

membraned

ˈmem-ˌbrānd 

adjective