membranous

Everyday

1. (science) Made of a membrane, or like a membrane: thin, soft and skin-like, often so thin you can almost see through it. tree →
2. (science) Having thin skin-like parts, like a bat's or insect's wings. tree →

In the lessons

In science, «membranous» describes thin layers in plants and animals: bat wings, insect wings, the skin inside an eggshell, and membranes around cells. It is a formal biology word. Phrases: «membranous wings», «a membranous layer».

Examples

• Bats have membranous wings stretched between their fingers. tree →
• Dragonflies have clear, membranous wings. tree →
• Inside the eggshell is a thin, membranous layer. tree →
• The frog's feet are joined by membranous webs. tree →
• The onion skin is thin and membranous. tree →
• Under the microscope we saw a membranous sheet of cells. tree →
• Some seeds have membranous wings to help them fly. tree →
• The pterosaur had large membranous wings. tree →

Note

Adjective from «membrane». Pronounced «MEM-bra-nus». Formal science word. Not a maths word.