tomentum

[ tuh-men-tuhm ]

noun

, Botany, Entomology.

, plural to·men·ta [t, uh, -, men, -t, uh].

1. pubescence consisting of longish, soft, entangled hairs pressed close to the surface.

tomentum

/ təˈmɛntəm; təˈmɛntəʊs /

noun

1. a feltlike covering of downy hairs on leaves and other plant parts
2. a network of minute blood vessels occurring in the human brain between the pia mater and cerebral cortex

Derived Forms

• tomentose, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tomentum¹

1690–1700; < New Latin tōmentum, Latin: stuffing (of wool, hair, etc.) for cushions

Word History and Origins

Origin of tomentum¹

C17: New Latin, from Latin: stuffing for cushions; related to Latin tumēre to swell

Example Sentences

It bears short-stalked ovate or oblong leaves, with strongly marked veins, and covered with a soft tomentum or down.

From Project Gutenberg

The leaf has a yellow tomentum below; and the fruit forms a favourite food of monkeys and of various birds, but is not touched by man.

From Project Gutenberg

P. thin campan. then exp. tomentose, squamulose; g. free, grey then blackish; s. narrowed upwards, glabrous above, downy below, base with white tomentum.

From Project Gutenberg

It is an upright-growing tree, 30 feet to 40 feet high, with large serrated leaves, covered beneath with a dense silvery tomentum.

From Project Gutenberg

Leaf medium to large, slightly oblong, with large, deeply-cut compound teeth; basal sinus widely opened, primary sinuses narrow and shallow; smooth on both sides with scattered tomentum below, bright green above, lighter below.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dressing
• filling