trichome

trichome — noun

1. a very small hair-like growth that sticks out from the surface of a plant or ano

1.nounC2
Definition

a very small hair-like growth that sticks out from the surface of a plant or another living thing

Example

Under the lens, Mizuki pointed to tiny trichomes along the tomato leaf edge.

trichomes along a leaf edge

The lab chart showed each trichome as a fine hair on the stem.

a trichome as a fine hair

Common collocations
  • leaf trichome
  • sticky trichome
  • glandular trichome
  • dense trichomes
Synonyms
  • hair

    a broader everyday word for something thin and hair-like

  • filament

    a technical word for a thin thread, not necessarily one growing from a surface

  • spine

    suggests a sharper and stiffer projection than trichome

Grammar Patterns

a trichome on the leaf surface

sticky trichomes

glandular trichomes

Usage Note

Usually refers to the fine projections on plant surfaces, especially leaves and stems. In plant biology, trichomes may help protect the surface or reduce water loss.

2. a thin structure made of cells joined one after another in a line, especially in

2.nounC2
Definition

a thin structure made of cells joined one after another in a line, especially in some bacteria or algae

Example

Under the microscope, Liam followed one trichome through the algae sample.

a trichome in an algae sample

The teacher explained that this trichome was made of many joined cells.

a trichome made of joined cells

Common collocations
  • green trichome
  • trichome of cells
  • bacterial trichome
  • algae trichome
Synonyms
  • filament

    a broader scientific term for a thin thread-like structure

  • strand

    a general word for something long and thin, less technical than trichome

  • cell chain

    states directly that the structure is made of linked cells

Grammar Patterns

a trichome of joined cells

a green trichome in the sample

a trichome in a bacterial colony

Usage Note

Used in technical descriptions of algae and some bacteria. Distinguish this sense from sense 1, which is about a surface growth rather than a chain of cells.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

In biology, trichome is the precise term for a tiny hair-like growth on a plant or similar living surface. Hair is much broader and is usually used for people, animals, or anything that simply looks like hair. Filament also sounds scientific, but it usually means any thin thread-like structure and does not have to grow from a surface. Spine suggests a harder or sharper projection, so it can sound more defensive than trichome. If a botanist is describing the fine growths on a leaf, trichome is the best word. In more general writing, hair-like growth may be easier for non-specialists to understand.

hair ↗filament ↗spine ↗

Etymology

GreekEnglish

The word comes from Greek roots related to hair, which fits the way trichomes look. English uses it in biology for very small hair-like growths and for some thin cell structures that resemble them.

First known use

1875

1875, in the meaning defined above