membraneless

6.8

Not having a thin layer around it

adjective
/ˈmɛmbrənlɛs/

Specialized

: sin membrana

Some cell compartments are membraneless and form through special physical processes.

Examples

Unlike most organelles, these structures are membraneless and can change shape easily.
Scientists discovered a new membraneless organelle inside the plant cell.
The membraneless organelles play crucial roles in cellular processes.
Is the structure of the cell membraneless?
Many cells contain membraneless structures that play important roles in cellular processes.
Organelles like nucleoli are considered membraneless because they lack a surrounding membrane.
The study focused on how membraneless bodies form and function within living cells.

Antonyms

membranous

Specialized

1 7.4

Made of a thin, flexible layer that covers or separates parts of the body

How Membranous

membraned

Specialized

7.6

membranous

Specialized

1 7.4

membrane-forming

Specialized

6.4

membraneless

Specialized

6.8

Surface Forms

membraneless positive

Morphology

membraneless = membrane (transparent) = membrane + less

Formed by the regular combination of 'membrane' + '-less' meaning 'without a membrane', which learners can readily infer.

Etymology

Membraneless is made of membrane and -less; a membrane is like a 'thin skin' or layer, and -less means 'without', as in homeless. So membraneless means 'without a membrane', which is why scientists use it for cell parts that have no surrounding layer and can change shape easily.