any of numerous sterile cells occurring between the sex organs of mosses and algae and between the spore-producing bodies of basidiomycetous and ascomycetousfungi
Derived forms
paraphysate (paˈraphysate)
adjective
Word origin
C19: New Latin from Greek: subsidiary growth, from para-1 + phusis growth
paraphysis in American English
(pəˈræfɪsɪs)
nounWord forms: pluralpaˈraphyˌses (pəˈræfɪˌsiz)
a sterile, threadlike part found with the spore-bearing organs of some ferns and mosses
Word origin
ModL < Gr, an offshoot, sucker < para- (see para-1) + physis, a growth < phyein, to grow: see be