# septa

/ˈsɛptə/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/septa
Updated: 2026-05-31

## Definition

thin walls or layers that separate two spaces or parts inside a living thing. You find them in places like your nose or inside certain plants and shells.

For teachers: plural form of 'septum'; refers to thin partitions or walls that divide a cavity or structure into smaller sections. Common in anatomical, botanical, and zoological descriptions to denote internal divisions.

## Examples

- The doctor checked the septa in the patient's heart.
- In certain types of fungi, the hyphae are divided into cells by internal walls called septa.
- The nautilus shell is divided into several chambers by transverse septa, allowing the creature to regulate its buoyancy by adjusting the gas levels within each section.

## Pitfalls

- Not "this septa is" but "these septa are" — Septa is the plural form of septum; it requires plural verb agreement and plural demonstratives.

## Usage notes

- The plural of 'septum'. As a Latin-derived plural, it takes a plural verb ('the septa are').

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.