dermis

[ dur-mis ]
See synonyms for dermis on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. Anatomy, Zoology. the dense inner layer of skin beneath the epidermis, composed of connective tissue, blood and lymph vessels, sweat glands, hair follicles, and an elaborate sensory nerve network.

Compare Meanings

Click for a side-by-side comparison of meanings. Use the word comparison feature to learn the differences between similar and commonly confused words.

Origin of dermis

1
1820–30; <New Latin; abstracted from epidermis

Words Nearby dermis

Other definitions for -dermis (2 of 2)

-dermis

  1. a combining form meaning “skin,” “layer of tissue,” used in the formation of compound words: exodermis; gastrodermis.

Origin of -dermis

2
On the model of epidermis; cf. dermis

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use dermis in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dermis

dermis

/ (ˈdɜːmɪs) /


noun
  1. another name for corium

Origin of dermis

1
C19: New Latin, from epidermis

Derived forms of dermis

  • dermic, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for dermis

dermis

[ dûrmĭs ]


  1. The innermost layer of the skin in vertebrate animals. The dermis lies under the epidermis and contains nerve endings and blood and lymph vessels. In mammals, the dermis also contains hair follicles and sweat glands.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.