squamous

American  

[skwey-muhs] / ˈskweɪ məs /

Also squamose

adjective

1. covered with or formed of squamae; scaly.

2. like a scale.

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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

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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

At first, the acting student thought the lesion was just a result of biting her tongue during an epileptic seizure, but doctors decided to biopsy the area and found stage two squamous cell carcinoma.

From BBC • Dec. 6, 2025

The Mayo Clinic says squamous cell carcinoma is a form of cancer that begins as a growth on the cells of the skin and that an HPV infection is among the risk factors.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 2, 2025

They tracked each patient's next diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma or cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

From Science Daily • Oct. 20, 2025

Mr. Kildee was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, a serious but curable form of cancer.

From Washington Times • Nov. 16, 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