n., pl., -li·ums, or -li·a (-lē-ə).
Membranous tissue composed of one or more layers of cells separated by very little intercellular substance and forming the covering of most internal and external surfaces of the body and its organs.
[New Latin epithēlium : EPI- + Greek thēlē, nipple.]
epithelial ep'i·the'li·al adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
