epitheca

E1P3I1T1H4E1C3A1

noun

The upper half of the theca of a thecate protist such as a diatom or dinoflagellate.

OriginAncient Greek ἐπί →
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Meanings

nounepitheca (plural epithecae)

plural epithecae

  1. biologyThe upper half of the theca of a thecate protist such as a diatom or dinoflagellate.

    Cellariiform, the orifices nearly confined to the convex frontal and lateral surfaces; the basal surface with a strong median calcareous keel, almost concealed by a flat membranous epitheca, which covers the whole zoarium […]

    1957, Sidney Frederic Harmer, The Polyzoa of the Siboga Expedition, page 1106

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
epiconeepisome

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekἐπί“upon”
  2. Englishepitheca

Ancient Greek ἐπί (epí, “upon”) + θήκη (thḗkē, “case, box, receptacle”)

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

petechia
Cite this entry
APA

epitheca. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/epitheca

MLA

“epitheca.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/epitheca. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “epitheca,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/epitheca.

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