Word
cuticle
Phoneticscu·ti·cle
US/ˈkjutəkəɫ/
UK/kjˈuːtɪkəl/
Definition
n. the thin, clear layer of skin that covers the base of your fingernails and toenails. In plants, it is a waxy layer on the surface of leaves that helps them stay dry.
n. the thin, transparent layer of dead skin cells that covers the base of a fingernail or toenail. In botany, it refers to the waxy, protective coating on the surface of leaves and stems that prevents water loss.
Examples
“You should not pick at your cuticle because it can get infected.”
“The manicurist carefully pushed back the cuticle to prepare the nails for a polish application.”
“The plant's cuticle acts as a primary barrier against desiccation, reflecting excess sunlight and reducing the rate of transpiration in arid environments.”
Examples
simple
“You should not pick at your cuticle because it can get infected.”
contextual
“The manicurist carefully pushed back the cuticle to prepare the nails for a polish application.”
complex
“The plant's cuticle acts as a primary barrier against desiccation, reflecting excess sunlight and reducing the rate of transpiration in arid environments.”
Real-World Examples
“He said he had been using a microscope to analyse the cuticles, and different layers of the bear's fur as well as its DNA.” Etymology
From Middle French cuticule, from Latin cuticula (“cuticle, skin”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/cuticle