trichome

[ trik-ohm, trahy-kohm ]

noun

1. Botany. an outgrowth from the epidermis of plants, as a hair.
2. a microorganism composed of many filamentous cells arranged in strands or chains.

trichome

/ ˈtrɪk-; ˈtraɪkəʊm; trɪˈkɒmɪk /

noun

1. any hairlike outgrowth from the surface of a plant
2. any of the threadlike structures that make up the filaments of blue-green algae

trichome

/ trĭk′ōm′,trī′kōm′ /

1. One of the hairlike or bristlelike outgrowths on the epidermis of a plant. Trichomes serve a variety of functions, depending on their location. As root hairs (and as leaf hairs in epiphytes), trichomes absorb water and minerals. As leaf hairs, they reflect radiation, lower plant temperature, and reduce water loss. They also provide defense against insects.

Derived Forms

• trichomic, adjective

Other Words From

• tri·chom·ic [trih-, kom, -ik, -, koh, -mik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of trichome¹

First recorded in 1870–75, trichome is from the Greek word tríchōma growth of hair. See trich-, -oma

Word History and Origins

Origin of trichome¹

C19: from Greek trikhōma , from trikhoun to cover with hair, from thrix a hair

Example Sentences

"The presence of these acylsugars in roots was fascinating and led to so many questions. How did this happen, how are they being made and are they different from the trichome acylsugars we've been studying?"

From Science Daily

Looking at public genetic sequence data, Kerwin noticed that many of the genes expressed in tomato trichome acylsugar production had close relatives in roots.

From Science Daily

When they knocked out the root acylsugar candidate gene, root acylsugar production vanished, leaving trichome acylsugar production untouched.

From Science Daily

Meanwhile, when the well-studied trichome acylsugar gene was knocked out, root acylsugar production carried on as usual.

From Science Daily

To drive home this breakthrough, Jaynee Hart, a postdoctoral researcher and second author on the latest paper, looked closer at the functions of trichome and root enzymes.

From Science Daily