membrane
/ˈmembreɪn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmembreɪn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmem-ˌbrān/ (ame, mw)
membrane — noun
- membranesingular
- membranesplural
1. a thin, soft layer of tissue inside the body of a living thing that covers, line
a thin, soft layer of tissue inside the body of a living thing that covers, lines, or connects internal organs and other structures.
The mucous membrane inside your nose helps trap dust and germs before they reach the lungs.
mucous membrane — common compound noun for body linings
During surgery, the doctor carefully cut through a thin membrane to reach the damaged organ.
Inflammation of the membrane around the heart can cause sharp chest pain.
Have you ever wondered what the thin membrane covering the front of your eyeball is called?
文法句型
membrane + of + body part
adjective + membrane (mucous membrane, thin membrane)
用法筆記
Frequently modified by the name of the organ or body part it surrounds (e.g., mucous membrane, membrane of the brain). In medical contexts, many membranes have their own specialized names — pleura for the lung lining, peritoneum for the abdominal cavity, and meninges for the brain covering.
常見錯誤
2. a thin, flexible sheet of synthetic or natural material that separates two areas
a thin, flexible sheet of synthetic or natural material that separates two areas, blocks the passage of liquids or gases, or serves as a cover for an opening.
A waterproof membrane was installed beneath the roof tiles to keep rain from leaking in.
waterproof membrane — common collocation in construction
These running shoes use a breathable membrane that lets sweat escape while keeping water out.
breathable membrane — product feature collocation
Rachid wrapped the leftover sandwich in a plastic membrane before putting it in the fridge.
The water treatment plant uses a special membrane to remove salt from seawater.
文法句型
adjective + membrane (waterproof membrane, synthetic membrane)
membrane + for + purpose
用法筆記
Often appears in technical contexts such as construction, engineering, and filtration. Common modifiers include waterproof, breathable, synthetic, and permeable. Unlike sense 1, this sense does not refer to living tissue.
常見錯誤
3. the fine outer covering that surrounds every living cell, controlling which subs
the fine outer covering that surrounds every living cell, controlling which substances are allowed to enter or leave.
The cell membrane controls which nutrients enter the cell and which waste products leave.
cell membrane + control/allow/repair — typical verb patterns
Damage to the cell membrane can cause the cell to die because it can no longer hold its contents.
Henrik studied how the cell membrane allows oxygen to pass through while keeping larger molecules out.
Scientists have developed a model that shows how the cell membrane repairs itself after injury.
- plasma membrane
a more technical synonym used in advanced biology; identical in meaning
- outer membrane
sometimes used for the outermost layer of a cell, especially in bacteria
- cell wall
a rigid outer layer found in plant cells, fungi, and bacteria — structurally different and not present in animal cells
文法句型
cell membrane
membrane + of + cell
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in biology and life-science contexts. The compound noun cell membrane is a fixed term; advanced learners may also encounter the synonym plasma membrane. Distinguish from cell wall, which is a rigid outer layer found only in plants, fungi, and some bacteria.