pellicle

noun

pel·​li·​cle ˈpe-li-kəl 

plural pellicles

: a thin skin or film: such as

a

: an outer membrane of some protozoans (such as euglenoids or paramecia)

b

: a film that reflects a part of the light falling upon it and transmits the rest and that is used for dividing a beam of light (as in a photographic device)

c

: a slimy or gelatinous film that contains bacteria, yeasts, or both and that may form on the surface of a liquid (such as beer, wine, or kombucha) during the process of fermentation

Examples of pellicle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some non-abrasive whitening products can also help by dissolving the protein pellicle—a sticky layer that traps stains and bacteria—without harming the surface. —Daryl Austin, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025

That’s why in today’s lithography tools, the photomask is covered by a transparent pellicle. —IEEE Spectrum, 5 Jan. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Middle French pellicule, from Medieval Latin pellicula, from Latin, diminutive of pellis

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pellicle

• evangelical
• helical

Kids Definition

pellicle

noun

pel·​li·​cle ˈpel-i-kəl 

: a thin skin, film, or membrane (as of a paramecium)

Medical Definition

pellicle

noun

pel·​li·​cle ˈpel-i-kəl 

: a thin skin or film: as

a

: an outer membrane of some protozoans (as euglenoids or paramecia)

b

: a bacterial growth in the form of a sheet on the surface of a liquid medium

c

: a thin layer of salivary glycoproteins coating the surface of the teeth