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Glite Dictionary
tegument

tegument

9.9
The outer layer of an animal or plant that protects it, such as skin
  • noun
  • /ˈtɛɡjʊmənt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : tegumento
  • The tegument of the starfish is tough and helps it survive in harsh coastal waters.

Examples

  • "My tone was guarded; a pulse of warning stabbed at my spine through its thin tegument of muscle fiber and skin.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • The scientist studied the protective tegument of the amphibian to understand its adaptability to different environments.

  • Researchers discovered that the tegument of certain insects plays a crucial role in protecting them from dehydration.

Synonyms

skin
vstegument
∞ 1.0

The outer layer covering the body of a person or animal

is a broader term for outer protective layers beyond the body layer
cutis
vstegument
  • Specialized
1 9.8

The outer layer of skin that covers the body

is the broader natural outer covering not limited to one layer
tegmentum
vstegument
  • Archaic
9.9

A protective outer layer on a plant or animal, like a seed coat

is the modern general term for such protective outer layers
tegmen
vstegument
  • Specialized
9.9

A thin layer that covers and protects a seed or an insect's front wing

is a general protective outer covering rather than a specific structure

How Protective

shell
296 1.0
cuticle
  • Specialized
1 6.3
tegument
  • Specialized
9.9
film
191 3.2

Surface Forms

tegument singular
teguments plural

Etymology

Tegument comes from a Latin root teg- that means 'to cover'. It's the same root as in protect, so a tegument is the natural 'cover' like skin that keeps an animal or plant safe.