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Definition of membrane noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

membrane

noun
 
/ˈmembreɪn/
 
/ˈmembreɪn/
[countable, uncountable]
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  1. a thin layer of skin or tissue that connects or covers parts inside the body
    • The virus passes through the cell membrane.
    see also mucous membraneTopics Bodyc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • thin
    • permeable
    • semi-permeable
    membrane + verb
    • surround something
    membrane + noun
    • wall
    preposition
    • through a/​the membrane
    See full entry
  2. a very thin layer found in the structure of cells in plantsTopics Biologyc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • thin
    • permeable
    • semi-permeable
    membrane + verb
    • surround something
    membrane + noun
    • wall
    preposition
    • through a/​the membrane
    See full entry
  3. a thin layer of material used to prevent air, liquid, etc. from entering a particular part of something
    • a waterproof membrane
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • thin
    • permeable
    • semi-permeable
    membrane + verb
    • surround something
    membrane + noun
    • wall
    preposition
    • through a/​the membrane
    See full entry
  4. Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin membrana, from membrum ‘limb’.
See membrane in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee membrane in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

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