squamous

American  

[skwey-muhs] / ˈskweɪ məs /

Also squamose

adjective

1. covered with or formed of squamae; scaly.

2. like a scale.

---

squamous British  

/ ˈskweɪməs, ˈskweɪməʊs /

adjective

1. (of epithelium) consisting of one or more layers of flat platelike cells

2. covered with, formed of, or resembling scales

---

Other Word Forms

• squamosely adverb
• squamoseness noun
• squamously adverb
• squamousness noun

Etymology

Origin of squamous

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin squāmōsus “covered with scales, scaly”; see squama, -ous

Example Sentences

"It turned out that I have P16 squamous carcinoma at the base of my tongue. So I said to the doctors, 'Well, did this happen because of the lymphoma?' And they said, 'Totally unrelated.'"

From BBC • Dec. 2, 2025

"The squamous epithelia of the esophagus and the columnar epithelia of the stomach meet at the gastroesophageal junction," explains Dr. Naveen Kumar Nirchal, one of the first authors of the study.

From Science Daily • Apr. 11, 2024

Another kind of skin cancer can develop in squamous cells, which lie just above them.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 24, 2024

Campbell was diagnosed in October with squamous cell carcinoma, Michaela Campbell previously told People.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2023

Doctors found squamous cell cancer in a small mole they removed from Ma’s face, a condition caused by too much exposure to the sun.

From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride