somite

[soh-mahyt]

noun

any of the longitudinal series of segments or parts into which the body of certain animals is divided; a metamere.
Embryology. one member of a series of paired segments into which the thickened dorsal zone of mesoderm is divided.

Origin of somite

First recorded in 1865–70; som(a)¹ + -ite¹

Related formsso·mi·tal

[soh-mi-tl] /ˈsoʊ mɪ tl/, so·mit·ic

[soh-mit-ik] /soʊˈmɪt ɪk/, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for somite

Historical Examples of somite

But the mouth remains as an inpushing of the wall of the first somite.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 6
Various
Each cranial nerve is typically placed immediately behind the head-cavity of its somite.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume III (of 4)
Francis Maitland Balfour
The simple identification of somite with somite in Limulus and Scorpio seemed to be threatened by this discovery.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 3
Various
In fact, more or less complete “excalation” of the somite takes place.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 3
Various
The appendages of the 2nd somite of the opisthosoma absent, rarely minute and bud-like (some Amblypygi), never pectiniform.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 3
Various

British Dictionary definitions for somite

somite

noun

embryol any of a series of dorsal paired segments of mesoderm occurring along the notochord in vertebrate embryos. It develops into muscle and bone in the adult animal
zoology another name for metamere

Derived Formssomital (ˈsəʊmɪtəl) or somitic (səʊˈmɪtɪk), adjective

Word Origin for somite

C19: from Greek sōma a body

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

somite in Medicine

somite

[sō′mīt′]

A segmental mass of mesoderm in the vertebrate embryo, occurring in pairs along the notochord and developing into muscles and vertebrae.
metamere