cuticle
/ˈkjuːtɪkəl/
noun
- The thin layer of dead skin at the base of a fingernail or toenail.
- Dry cuticles can be painful and may lead to hangnails if not moisturized.
- She pushed back her cuticles gently after soaking her hands in warm water.
- The manicurist trimmed the cuticles carefully with a small tool.
- The outer protective layer of a plant, such as the waxy coating on leaves and stems.
- The waxy cuticle on the leaf helps the plant retain water in dry conditions.
- The cuticle of desert plants is often thicker to prevent water loss.
- Some insects can chew through the cuticle of a plant to feed on its tissues.
- The outermost layer of an animal's skin or exoskeleton, such as the thin covering on an insect's body.
- The cuticle of a worm is thin and permeable to water.
- The insect's cuticle provides protection against predators and dehydration.
- A crab sheds its old cuticle when it molts and grows a new one.
Synonyms