Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

sessile

adjective
ses·​sile | \ ˈse-ˌsī(-ə)l How to pronounce sessile (audio) , -səl\

Definition of sessile

1 : attached directly by the base : not raised upon a stalk or peduncle a sessile leaf sessile bubbles
2 : permanently attached or established : not free to move about sessile sponges and coral polyps

Examples of sessile in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 Well, the sessile oak sapling—from Belleau, the French site of a World War I battle—is no longer on the White House lawn. — David Meyer, Fortune, "Why the Tree Emmanuel Macron Gifted to Trump Disappeared From the White House Lawn," 30 Apr. 2018 Another factor, Monterro-Serra notes, is that these sessile species are clonal. — National Geographic, "Why This Animal Can Live for Over 500 Years," 31 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sessile.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of sessile

circa 1753, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for sessile

Latin sessilis of or fit for sitting, low, dwarf (of plants), from sessus, past participle of sedēre

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about sessile

Statistics for sessile

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for sessile

The first known use of sessile was circa 1753

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for sessile

sessile

adjective
ses·​sile | \ ˈses-īl How to pronounce sessile (audio) , -əl How to pronounce sessile (audio) \

Medical Definition of sessile

1 : attached directly by a broad base : not pedunculated a sessile tumor
2 : firmly attached (as to a cell) : not free to move about sessile antibodies

More from Merriam-Webster on sessile

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with sessile

Comments on sessile

What made you want to look up sessile? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

writhe

Listen to the pronounciation of writhe

to move or proceed with twists and turns

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Words from Greek and Latin Quiz

  • roman forum
  • Which of the following months comes from a Latin word for “ten”?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Bee Cubed

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
TRENDING NOW

  1. surveillance Comey comments on Barr's use of 'spy'

  2. cavalier Virginia wins men's championship

  3. redact, redacted Barr discusses release of report

SEE ALL
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games