Standard Lemma guide

desmosome

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A structural unit that functions in the adhesion of cells to form tissue.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English desmo- Proto-Indo-European *tewh2- Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Indo-European *twoH-mn̥ Proto-Hellenic *twṓmə? Proto-Indo-European *styeH- Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Indo-European *(s)tyoH-mn̥ Proto-Hellenic *styṓmə? Ancient Greek σῶμα (sôma)lbor. English -some English desmosome From desmo- + -some.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: desmosome — a structural unit that functions in the adhesion of cells to form tissue
  • German: Desmosom — a structural unit that functions in the adhesion of cells to form tissue
  • Indonesian: desmosom — a structural unit that functions in the adhesion of cells to form tissue
  • Italian: desmosoma — a structural unit that functions in the adhesion of cells to form tissue
  • Portuguese: desmossomo — a structural unit that functions in the adhesion of cells to form tissue
  • Portuguese: desmossoma — a structural unit that functions in the adhesion of cells to form tissue
  • Spanish: desmosoma — a structural unit that functions in the adhesion of cells to form tissue