epithelial

American  

[ep-uh-thee-lee-uhl] / ˌɛp əˈθi li əl /

adjective

1. Biology. being or relating to an epithelium, any tissue that lines a cavity or covers a surface in an animal or plant.

   Cheek epithelial cells are often studied in school labs as they are easily obtained through a mouth rinse or swab.

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Other Word Forms

• interepithelial
  adjective
• nonepithelial
  adjective
• subepithelial
  adjective
• unepithelial
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of epithelial

First recorded in 1935–40; epitheli(um) ( def. ) + -al ¹ ( def. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

epithelial

Researchers have found that it also helps epithelial cells, which form continuous sealed layers throughout the body, engulf nearby dead cells.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 5, 2026

The researchers wanted to know whether E-cadherin and its partners were attaching to the dying cell in the same way they normally attach neighboring epithelial cells.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 5, 2026

The upper and lower surfaces of the same epithelial cell can behave differently from one another.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 5, 2026

A team led by Verena Ruprecht examined epithelial tissues in living zebrafish and mouse embryos.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 5, 2026

Rather, the article said, it was “a very aggressive adenocarcinoma of the cervix,” meaning it originated from glandular tissue in her cervix instead of epithelial tissue.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

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