pellicle

American  

[pel-i-kuhl] / ˈpɛl ɪ kəl /

noun

1. a thin skin or membrane; film; scum.

2. SCOBY.

3. Photography. a thin, partially reflective coating, as on a beam splitter or pellicle mirror.

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pellicle British  

/ ˈpɛlɪkəl, pɛˈlɪkjʊlə /

noun

1. a thin skin or film

2. the hard protective outer layer of certain protozoans, such as those of the genus Paramecium

3. botany

   1. the thin outer layer of a mushroom cap

   2. a growth on the surface of a liquid culture

4. photog the thin layer of emulsion covering a plate, film, or paper

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Other Word Forms

• pellicular adjective
• pelliculate adjective

Etymology

Origin of pellicle

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin pellicul(a), equivalent to pelli(s) “skin” + -cula noun suffix ( see -cle ¹)

Example Sentences

The study is part of the Thematic Project "Modulation of acquired pellicle to control dental mineral loss: unveiling mechanisms to make therapies possible," coordinated by Professor Marília Afonso Rabelo Buzalaf at FOB-USP.

From Science Daily • Apr. 5, 2026

Lovers of home-brewed kombucha may actually be familiar with the raw nanocellulose material — it forms as a floating off-white structure called a pellicle.

From Salon • Sep. 27, 2023

A similar pellicle formed on our acid whey mixture.

From Salon • Sep. 27, 2023

Protists that have a pellicle are surrounded by proteins.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

P. convex then depr. then edge erect and sulcate, pellicle viscid, separable, yellow with green or brown stains; g. broad; s. reticulated, base narrowed.

From European Fungus Flora: Agaricaceae by Massee, George

Related Words

• fur
• leather
• skin
• wool