tapetum

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noun

A membranous layer of tissue.

OriginLatin tapētum ← Ancient Greek τάπης →
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Meanings

nountapetum (plural tapetums or tapeta)

plural tapetums · plural tapeta

  1. anatomyA membranous layer of tissue.
  2. anatomyThe pigmentary layer of the retina.
  3. biologyThe cells on the outside of an archesporium.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekτάπης
  2. Latintapētum
  3. Englishtapetum

From Latin tapētum. Further from Ancient Greek τάπης (tápēs). Doublet of tapet.

More words from Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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