intima

[ in-tuh-muh ]

/ ˈɪn tə mə /

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noun, plural in·ti·mae

[in-tuh-mee]. /ˈɪn təˌmi/. Anatomy.

the innermost membrane or lining of some organ or part, especially that of an artery, vein, or lymphatic.

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Origin of intima

1870–75; <New Latin, noun use of feminine of Latin intimus,intumus inmost, equivalent to in-in-² + -timus superlative suffix; cf. optimal, ultimate

OTHER WORDS FROM intima

in·ti·mal, adjectivesub·in·ti·mal, adjective

Words nearby intima

In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes, inthral, inthrone, inti, intifada, intima, intimacy, intimate, intimate borrowing, intimated, intimately

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use intima in a sentence

Itaque legatum cum donis ad eum misit C. Laelium, quocum intima familiaritate vivebat.
Selections from Viri Romae|Charles Franois L'Homond
Al fin intima al Sumo Pontfice que renuncie al gobierno temporal de los Estados romanos.
Novelas Cortas|Pedro Antonio de Alarcn
In intima et ultima secretiori bibliotheca ubi libri sunt pretiosiores.
The Care of Books|John Willis Clark
These valves are composed of semilunar folds of the tunica intima strengthened by an addition of connective tissue.
Manual of Surgery|Alexis Thomson and Alexander Miles

He remarks also that he observed hyaline degeneration of the intima of arteries in the spleen.
A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I|Various

British Dictionary definitions for intima

intima

/ (ˈɪntɪmə) /

noun plural -mae (-ˌmiː)

anatomy zoology the innermost layer of an organ or part, esp of a blood vessel

Derived forms of intima

intimal, adjective

Word Origin for intima

C19: from Latin, feminine of intimus innermost; see intimate 1

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 intima

intima

[ ĭn′tə-mə ]

n. pl. in•ti•mas

The innermost coat of an organ.

Other words from intima

in′ti•mal adj.