theca

Meanings

nountheca (plural thecas or thecae)

plural thecas · plural thecae

Any of several external cases or sheaths.
1. biologyThe pollen-producing organ usually found in pairs and forming an anther.
2. biologyThe theca folliculi: the twin layers of cells surrounding the basal lamina of an ovarian follicle.
3. biologyThe thecal sac: the portion of the dura mater that surrounds the spinal cord and the cauda equina.
4. biologyThe membrane complex enveloping the cells of certain plankton including diatoms and dinoflagellates.
5. marine biologybiologyThe calcareous wall of a corallite, the exoskeleton of a coral polyp.
6. biologyA sporangium: a spore case.
ChristianityA case for the corporal cloth used in the Eucharist.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna case or sheath especially a pollen sac or moss capsule

Similar

sac

Broader

coveringnatural coveringcover

Also see

sac sporangium

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

Proto-Indo-European*dʰeh₁-
Proto-Indo-European*dʰédʰeh₁ti
Ancient Greekτίθημι (títhēmi)
Ancient Greekθήκη (thḗkē)
Latinthēca
Englishtheca

From New Latin, from Latin thēca, from Ancient Greek θήκη (thḗkē, “a case, box, receptacle”), from τίθημι (títhēmi, “put, set, place”). Doublet of tay.

More words from Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →