theca

[ thee-kuh ]

noun

, plural the·cae [thee, -see].

1. a case or receptacle.
2. Botany, Mycology.
   1. a sac, cell, or capsule.
   2. a sporangium.
3. Anatomy, Zoology. a case or sheath enclosing an organ, structure, etc., as the horny covering of an insect pupa or the loose membrane covering the spinal cord.

theca

/ ˈθiːkə /

noun

1. botany an enclosing organ, cell, or spore case, esp the capsule of a moss
2. zoology a hard outer covering, such as the cup-shaped container of a coral polyp

theca

/ thē′kə /

, Plural thecae thē′sē′,-kē′

1. A case, covering, or sheath, such as the pollen sac of an anther, the spore case of a moss, or the outer covering of the pupa of certain insects.

Derived Forms

• ˈthecal, adjective

Other Words From

• thecal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of theca¹

1655–65; < Latin thēca, from Greek thḗkē “case, cover,” akin to tithénai “to place, put”

Word History and Origins

Origin of theca¹

C17: from Latin thēca, from Greek thēkē case; related to Greek tithenai to place

Example Sentences

From its sides behind proceed the antenn-cases (Cera-theca); and before from the middle, the tongue-case (Glosso-theca).

From Project Gutenberg

A chronic inflammatory involvement of a theca through which an important tendon plays may cause adhesions to form.

From Project Gutenberg

In addition to aspirating synovia, the introduction of equal parts of alcohol and tincture of iodin into the theca is necessary.

From Project Gutenberg

The body is often provided with not-living external formations “stalk” and “theca” (or “lorica”).

From Project Gutenberg

The word theca signified in classical Latin a case or receptacle in which any object was kept.

From Project Gutenberg