integumentary

American  

[in-teg-yuh-men-tuh-ree] / ɪnˌtɛg yəˈmɛn tə ri /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or like an integument.

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Usage

What does integumentary mean? Integumentary is an adjective used to refer to a covering or coating, especially natural coatings like skin, shells, and rinds.An integument is any coating or covering, but the term is primarily used for the outer layer of natural things like animals and plants. Integumentary is especially used in the term integumentary system to refer to the system of the human body that includes the skin and related things like hair and nails.Example: The integumentary layers of animals and plants are very different, but they often serve similar purposes.

Other Word Forms

• subintegumentary adjective

Etymology

Origin of integumentary

First recorded in 1835–45; integument + -ary

Example Sentences

Were there whiskers, filaments or other integumentary structures on the snout and elsewhere?

From Scientific American • Jul. 23, 2017

The integumentary system includes the hair, skin, and nails.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

The integumentary system is susceptible to a variety of diseases, disorders, and injuries.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The body’s largest organ system is the integumentary system, which includes the skin and its associated structures, such as hair and nails.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Having cleaned away my 'make-up,' I spent the rest of the day pushing forward the preliminary processes so that these might be completed before 'decay's effacing fingers' should obliterate the details of the integumentary structures.

From The Uttermost Farthing A Savant's Vendetta by Freeman, R. Austin (Richard Austin)