trichome

American  

[trik-ohm, trahy-kohm] / ˈtrɪk oʊm, ˈtraɪ koʊm /

noun

1. Botany. an outgrowth from the epidermis of plants, as a hair.

2. a microorganism composed of many filamentous cells arranged in strands or chains.

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trichome British  

/ ˈtrɪk-, ˈtraɪkəʊm, trɪˈkɒmɪk /

noun

1. any hairlike outgrowth from the surface of a plant

2. any of the threadlike structures that make up the filaments of blue-green algae

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trichome Scientific  

/ trĭk′ōm′,trī′kōm′ /

1. One of the hairlike or bristlelike outgrowths on the epidermis of a plant. Trichomes serve a variety of functions, depending on their location. As root hairs (and as leaf hairs in epiphytes), trichomes absorb water and minerals. As leaf hairs, they reflect radiation, lower plant temperature, and reduce water loss. They also provide defense against insects.

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Other Word Forms

• trichomic adjective

Etymology

Origin of trichome

First recorded in 1870–75, trichome is from the Greek word tríchōma growth of hair. See trich-, -oma

Example Sentences

Previously, the Last lab identified a BGC containing genes linked to trichome acylsugars in tomato plants.

From Science Daily • Apr. 24, 2024

Just as trichome enzymes and the acylsugars they produce are a well-studied chemical match, she found a promising link between root enzymes and the root acylsugars as well.

From Science Daily • Apr. 24, 2024

Meanwhile, when the well-studied trichome acylsugar gene was knocked out, root acylsugar production carried on as usual.

From Science Daily • Apr. 24, 2024

To drive home this breakthrough, Jaynee Hart, a postdoctoral researcher and second author on the latest paper, looked closer at the functions of trichome and root enzymes.

From Science Daily • Apr. 24, 2024

"The presence of these acylsugars in roots was fascinating and led to so many questions. How did this happen, how are they being made and are they different from the trichome acylsugars we've been studying?"

From Science Daily • Apr. 24, 2024