dehiscence

[dih-his-uh ns]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dehiscence ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Biology. the release of materials by the splitting open of an organ or tissue.

Botany. the natural bursting open of capsules, fruits, anthers, etc., for the discharge of their contents.

Surgery. the bursting open of a surgically closed wound.

Origin of dehiscence

1820–30; < New Latin dēhiscentia, equivalent to Latin dēhiscent- stem of dēhiscēns, present participle of dēhiscere (see dehisce) + -ia; see -ence

Related formsde·his·cent, adjectivenon·de·his·cent, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for dehiscent

accessible, wide, clear, free, susceptible, exposed, stripped, bare, rent, removed, unblocked, unlocked, patent, gaping, extended, agape, rolling, uncovered, emptied, unbarred

Examples from the Web for dehiscent

Historical Examples of dehiscent

Fruit 5-celled dehiscent pods, with many pendulous, winged seeds.
Trees of the Northern United States
Austin C. Apgar
Dehiscent: open or standing open: separating toward the tip.
Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology
John. B. Smith
The dehiscent cone distinguishes this group from the Cembrae.
The Genus Pinus
George Russell Shaw
From P. albicaulis, with similar leaves, it differs by its dehiscent cone.
The Genus Pinus
George Russell Shaw
From the latter it is also distinct in its dehiscent cone and in its seed.
The Genus Pinus
George Russell Shaw

British Dictionary definitions for dehiscent

dehiscent

adjective

(of fruits, anthers, etc) opening spontaneously to release seeds or pollen

Derived Formsdehiscence, noun

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

Word Origin and History for dehiscent

dehiscence

1828, from Modern Latin dehiscentia, from dehiscentem (nominative dehiscens), present participle of dehiscere "to gape, open, split down" (of the earth, etc.), from de- (see de-) + hiscere, inchoative of hiare "to yawn" (see yawn (v.)).

dehiscent in Medicine