apophysis

American  

[uh-pof-uh-sis] / əˈpɒf ə sɪs /

noun

plural

apophyses

1. Anatomy, Botany. an outgrowth; process; projection or protuberance.

2. Architecture. apophyge.

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apophysis British  

/ -seɪt, əˈpɒfɪsɪs, əˈpɒfɪsɪt, ˌæpəˈfɪzɪəl /

noun

1. a process, outgrowth, or swelling from part of an animal or plant

2. geology a tapering offshoot from a larger igneous intrusive mass

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Other Word Forms

• apophysary adjective
• apophysate adjective
• apophyseal adjective
• apophysial adjective
• interapophyseal adjective

Etymology

Origin of apophysis

1605–15; < New Latin < Greek: offshoot, equivalent to apo- apo- + phýsis growth, equivalent to phý ( ein ) to bring forth + -sis -sis

Example Sentences

An examination of these pieces discovers adhesion only on a narrow ventral border under the apophysis and on a corresponding dorsal border back of the apophysis.

From The Genus Pinus by Shaw, George Russell

Entothorax: applied to the apodemes or processes extending inwardly from the sternal sclerites: see apophysis.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.

Cones from 15 to 25 cm. long, narrow-cylindrical; apophyses tawny yellow or pale fulvous brown, prominently convex, the umbo against the apophysis beneath; seeds with a long wing.

From The Genus Pinus by Shaw, George Russell

The seta widens out at the base of the capsule into a region known as the apophysis.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3 "Brescia" to "Bulgaria" by Various

The apophysis represents the later and larger growth of the cone-scale.

From The Genus Pinus by Shaw, George Russell