cambium

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UK/ˈkambɪəm/US/ˈkeə̯m.biˌəm/US/ˈkæm.biˌəm/

noun

A layer of cells between the xylem and the phloem that is responsible for the secondary growth of roots and stems.

OriginLate Latin cambium →
UncommonScrabble 15
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Meanings

nouncambium (countable and uncountable, plural cambiums or cambia)

plural cambiums · plural cambia

  1. countableuncountablebiologyA layer of cells between the xylem and the phloem that is responsible for the secondary growth of roots and stems.

    During winter we perceive no change in the cells of the cambium layer, which are filled with nutritive matter […].

    1863, Harland Coultas, What may be learned from a tree
  2. countableuncountableanatomyPeriosteum, a membrane that covers the outer surface of bones
  3. countableobsoleteuncountableOne of the humours formerly believed to nourish the bodily organs.

    The radical or innate is daily supplied by nourishment, which some call cambium, and make those secondary humours of ros and gluten to maintain it […]

    1621, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy, New York: New York Review Books, published 2001, →ISBN, page 147

Origin

  1. Late Latincambium“a change”
  2. Englishcambium

Borrowed from Late Latin cambium (“a change”), from Gaulish. Doublet of change.

More words from Late Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian ка́мбий
  • ка́мбий (kámbij)botanical cell layer
Dutch cambium
  • cambiumbotanical cell layer
Finnish jälsi
  • jälsibotanical cell layer
French cambium
  • cambiumbotanical cell layer
Greek κάμβιο
  • κάμβιο (kámvio)botanical cell layer
Hungarian kambium
  • kambiumbotanical cell layer
Italian cambio
  • cambiobotanical cell layer
Polish kambium
  • kambiumbotanical cell layer
Portuguese câmbio
  • câmbiobotanical cell layer
Romanian cambiu
  • cambiubotanical cell layer
Russian ка́мбий
  • ка́мбий (kámbij)botanical cell layer
Slovak kambium
  • kambiumbotanical cell layer
Spanish cambium
  • cambiumbotanical cell layer
Tagalog bayluhing suson, bayluhan
  • bayluhing susonbotanical cell layer
  • bayluhanbotanical cell layer
Cite this entry
APA

cambium. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cambium

MLA

“cambium.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cambium. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cambium,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cambium.

Source: cambium on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.