Meanings
plural hypophyses
- anatomyThe pituitary gland.
CHAPTER VI / THE DISEASES OF THE HYPOPHYSIS [PITUITARY GLAND]
1915, Wilhelm Falta, translated by Milton Kayton Meyers, The Ductless Glandular Diseases, P. Blakiston's Son & Co., →OCLC, page 231 - biologyThe top cell of the suspensor in a dicot embryo, which will differentiate to form part of the root cap.
All the cells of the suspensor, except one, are eventually crushed and obliterated by the growing embryo; this fortunate cell known as the hypophysis is the one in immediate contact with the embryo and plays an important role in the formation of the root apex.
1995, Trevor A. Thorpe, In Vitro Embryogenesis in Plants, Springer, →ISBN, page 85
Synonyms & antonyms
nounthe master gland of the endocrine system; located at the base of the brain
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*upó
- Ancient Greekὑπό (hupó)
- Proto-Indo-European*bʰuH-
- Proto-Indo-European*bʰuHyéti
- Ancient Greekφῠ́ω (phŭ́ō)
- Ancient Greekφύσις (phúsis)
- Ancient Greekὑπόφυσις (hupóphusis)
- Englishhypophysis
Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek ὑπόφυσις (hupóphusis, literally “attachment underneath”). By surface analysis, hypo- + -physis.
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
hypophysis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hypophysis
“hypophysis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hypophysis. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hypophysis,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hypophysis.
Source: hypophysis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.