cribriform

9.9

Having many small holes like a sieve

adjective
/ˈkrɪbərˌfɔrm/

Specialized

: cribriforme

Certain glands have a cribriform appearance under the microscope due to their many small holes.

Examples

The cribriform plate allows nerves from the nose to pass into the brain.
Some insects have cribriform structures that help them filter air.
The surgeon noted the cribriform structure of the tissue during the operation.
The cribriform plate is essential in the anatomy of the nasal cavity.
The cribriform plate allows nerves from the nose to pass into the brain.
The surgeon noted the cribriform structure of the tissue during the operation.
Certain glands have a cribriform appearance under the microscope due to their many small holes.

Synonyms

porotic

vscribriform

Specialized

1 9.6

A material like rock or bone that lets air and water pass through

focuses on structural sieve-like holes rather than tissue or pore emphasis

perforated

vscribriform

1 4.3

Something that has small holes through it, often in a regular pattern

specifies many tiny sieve-like holes rather than a few or large holes

sievelike

vscribriform

5.7

With many small holes that let things pass through easily

is a more technical label for the same sieve-like perforations

Antonyms

solid

325 1.0

Firm and hard so it keeps its shape, not liquid

dense

9 3.2

Crowded with people or things packed closely together

How Perforated

cribriform

Specialized

9.9

sievelike

5.7

porous

23 4.6

perforated

1 4.3

solid

325 1.0

Surface Forms

cribriform positive

Morphology

cribriform = sieve (opaque) = cribri + form

The combining form 'cribri-' (sieve) is not a standalone English word and is unknown to most learners, so the compound meaning cannot be derived from its parts.

Etymology

Cribriform comes from the Latin word cribrum meaning 'sieve' and the ending -form meaning 'shape'. So it literally means 'sieve-shaped', which is why we call a tissue or object cribriform when it is full of many small holes.