apophysis

[uh-pof-uh-sis]

noun

plural

apophyses 

1. Anatomy, Botany.,  an outgrowth; process; projection or protuberance.

2. Architecture.,  apophyge.

apophysis

/ -seɪt, əˈpɒfɪsɪs, əˈpɒfɪsɪt, ˌæpəˈfɪzɪəl /

noun

1. a process, outgrowth, or swelling from part of an animal or plant

2. geology a tapering offshoot from a larger igneous intrusive mass

Other Word Forms

• apophysial adjective
• apophysate adjective
• apophyseal adjective
• apophysary adjective
• interapophyseal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of apophysis¹

1605–15; < New Latin < Greek: offshoot, equivalent to apo- apo- + phýsis growth, equivalent to phý ( ein ) to bring forth + -sis -sis

Word History and Origins

Origin of apophysis¹

C17: via New Latin from Greek apophusis a sideshoot, from _apo- + phusis growth