intima

[ in-tuh-muh ]
/ ˈɪn tə mə /

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, intimation, Intimations of Immortality
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for intima

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.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.