alecithal

[ ey-les-uh-thuh l ]
/ eɪˈlɛs ə θəl /

adjective Embryology.

having little or no yolk in the cytoplasm of the egg or ovum.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
Question 1 of 10
decorum
the act of or need for making up one's mind.
dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT
Also a·le·cith·ic [ey-luh-sith-ik] /ˌeɪ ləˈsɪθ ɪk/.

Origin of alecithal

1875–80; a-6 + Greek lékith(os) yolk + -al1

Words nearby alecithal

alea, aleardi, aleatory, alebion, alec, alecithal, aleck, alecost, alecto, alectryomancy, alee
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for alecithal

alecithal
/ (eɪˈlɛsɪθəl) /

adjective

zoology (of an ovum) having little or no yolk

Word Origin for alecithal

from a- 1 + Greek lekithos egg yolk
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

Medical definitions for alecithal

alecithal
[ ă-lĕs′ə-thəl ]

adj.

Relating to an egg that has little or no yolk.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.