Cuticle: meaning, definitions and examples

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cuticle

[ ˈkjuːtɪkəl ]

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anatomy

The dead skin at the base of a fingernail or toenail.

Synonyms

eponychium, periungual skin

Examples of usage

She carefully pushed back her cuticles before applying nail polish.
The manicurist trimmed the excess cuticle around the nails.
Proper care of the cuticles can help prevent infections.
It is important to moisturize the cuticle regularly to keep it healthy.
Avoid cutting the cuticles too aggressively to prevent damage to the nail bed.

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botany

A protective layer covering the epidermis of leaves or stems.

Synonyms

epidermis, periderm

Examples of usage

The plant's cuticle helps reduce water loss through transpiration.
The shiny appearance of some leaves is due to the wax in the cuticle.
Botanists study the structure and function of the cuticle in plant biology.

Translations

Translations of the word "cuticle" in other languages:

🇵🇹 cutícula

🇮🇳 क्यूटिकल

🇩🇪 Nagelhaut

🇮🇩 kutikula

🇺🇦 кутикула

🇵🇱 skórka

🇯🇵 キューティクル

🇫🇷 cuticule

🇪🇸 cutícula

🇹🇷 tırnak eti

🇰🇷 큐티클

🇸🇦 بشرة

🇨🇿 kůžička

🇸🇰 kožtička

🇨🇳 角质层

🇸🇮 obnohtna kožica

🇮🇸 naglaband

🇰🇿 кутикула

🇬🇪 კუტიკულა

🇦🇿 kutikula

🇲🇽 cutícula

Word origin

The word 'cuticle' originated in the late Middle English period, from the Latin word 'cuticula', meaning 'diminutive of cutis' (skin). It first appeared in English in the sense of 'skin, especially of the finger' in the early 15th century. The botanical sense of 'protective layer on the surface of a plant' emerged in the mid-19th century.