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Glite Dictionary
intercellular substance

intercellular substance

7.0
Material between cells that supports them
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : sustancia intercelular
  • The intercellular substance provides support and structure to the tissue.

Examples

  • This type of tissue contains a rich intercellular substance that helps in cellular communication.

  • IgG is demonstrated in the squamous intercellular substance with a lacelike appearance in 80% to 95% of the cases.

    Academic text (2007)

  • The intercellular substance plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the tissue.

Synonyms

matrix
vsintercellular substance
  • Specialized
10 7.0

Material around cells that supports and holds them

is the material between cells in tissues that supports them
ground substance
vsintercellular substance
  • Specialized
8.1

A gel-like material between cells and fibers in connective tissue

is more general and covers material between cells across tissues

Surface Forms

intercellular substance singular
intercellular substances plural

Morphology

intercellular + substance

The meaning 'the material found between cells' is directly and compositionally derived from 'intercellular' (between cells) + 'substance' (material). This follows a transparent noun phrase formation common across languages and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.

Etymology

Intercellular substance shows its meaning in its parts: inter means 'between', cellular means 'cells' and substance means 'material'. Think of a soft 'glue' or jelly between tiny building blocks called cells that holds and supports them, so the phrase names the material that sits between and supports cells.