How Do You Spell PILIFEROUS?

Pronunciation: [pɪlˈɪfəɹəs] (IPA)

Piliferous, pronounced /pɪˈlɪf(ə)rəs/, is a technical term used to describe hair-bearing structures in plants and animals. The word is derived from the Latin word "pilus," meaning hair, and the suffix "-ferous," meaning to bear or carry. The spelling of the word is a combination of the Latin roots and English spelling conventions. The 'p' at the beginning of the word is pronounced like the 'p' in "pill," while the 'i' in the second syllable is pronounced like the 'i' in "pig." The stress is on the second syllable, indicated by the apostrophe in the phonetic transcription.

PILIFEROUS Meaning and Definition

  1. Piliferous is an adjective that describes something as hair-bearing or covered with fine, thread-like structures resembling hair. The term is often used in biology and botany to refer to structures or organisms that possess hair-like projections.

    In biology, piliferous can be used to describe certain types of cells or tissues that have hair-like structures. For example, the human skin has piliferous follicles, which are tiny cavities or pockets from which hair grows. These follicles are responsible for hair growth and maintenance. Similarly, piliferous cells are found in the intestinal lining, where they have hair-like projections called microvilli that increase the surface area for nutrient absorption.

    In botany, piliferous is used to describe plants or plant structures that are covered with fine hairs. These hairs, known as trichomes, can be found on the stems, leaves, and reproductive parts of many plant species. Piliferous trichomes help plants by providing protection against herbivores, reducing water loss through evaporation, and sometimes aiding in seed dispersal.

    Overall, piliferous is a term used to describe hair-bearing structures or organisms, whether it be in biology or botany. It signifies the presence of fine, thread-like projections resembling hair, which serve various functions depending on the context.

  2. In bot., covered with hair.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for PILIFEROUS

  • paliferous
  • Palliferous
  • oiliferous
  • liliferous
  • 0iliferous
  • puliferous
  • pjliferous
  • pkliferous
  • poliferous
  • p9liferous
  • p8liferous
  • pikiferous
  • pipiferous
  • pioiferous
  • piluferous
  • piljferous
  • pilkferous
  • piloferous
  • pil9ferous
  • pil8ferous

Etymology of PILIFEROUS

The word "piliferous" is derived from the Latin term "pilus", meaning "hair", and the suffix "-ferous", which is derived from the Latin "ferre", meaning "to bear" or "to carry". Therefore, "piliferous" can be interpreted as "bearing hair" or "hair-carrying". It is often used in scientific or technical contexts to describe something that has or produces hair.

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