Standard Lemma guide

sclerenchyma

noun · 2 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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  • UK: /sklɪəɹˈɛŋkɪmə/
  • /skləɹˈɛŋkəmə/ General American, weak vowel merger

1

noun

Meaning 1

A mechanical ground tissue, impermeable to water, which consists of cells having narrow lumen and thick, mineralized walls of lignin; present in stems, vascular bundles (of monocots), seed coverings, and vein and tips of leaves.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: biology, botany, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The hard calcareous deposit in the tissues of the stony corals (Anthozoa).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: biology, natural-sciences, zoology

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From sclero- + -enchyma.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Indonesian: sklerenkima — a mechanical, supportive ground tissue in plants consisting of aggregates of cells having thick, often mineralized walls
  • Persian: اسکرانشیم (eskelerânšîm) — a mechanical, supportive ground tissue in plants consisting of aggregates of cells having thick, often mineralized walls
  • Polish: twardzica — a mechanical, supportive ground tissue in plants consisting of aggregates of cells having thick, often mineralized walls
  • Polish: sklerenchyma — a mechanical, supportive ground tissue in plants consisting of aggregates of cells having thick, often mineralized walls
  • Portuguese: esclerênquima — a mechanical, supportive ground tissue in plants consisting of aggregates of cells having thick, often mineralized walls
  • Spanish: esclerénquima — a mechanical, supportive ground tissue in plants consisting of aggregates of cells having thick, often mineralized walls
  • Tagalog: tagasihayan — a mechanical, supportive ground tissue in plants consisting of aggregates of cells having thick, often mineralized walls
  • Turkish: sklerenkima — a mechanical, supportive ground tissue in plants consisting of aggregates of cells having thick, often mineralized walls