squamous
adjective
squa·mous ˈskwā-məs 
also ˈskwä-
1
a
: covered with or consisting of scales : scaly
b
: of, relating to, or being a stratified epithelium that consists at least in its outer layers of small scalelike cells
2
: resembling a scale or plate in structure
especially : of, relating to, or being either the thin anterior upper portion of the temporal bone, the vertical portion of the frontal bone forming the forehead, or the curved expanded portion of the occipital bone behind the foramen magnum
Synonyms
- scaled
- scaly
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web In the 1980s, Dougan developed squamous skin cancer and spent almost a year at the City of Hope cancer treatment center. 
New York Times, 21 Apr. 2021 Rivera, 58, who grew up in Seaside and was an All-America linebacker at Cal, successfully finished seven weeks of chemotherapy and proton radiation treatment in late October for squamous-cell cancer in his throat. Eric Branch, SFChronicle.com, 10 Dec. 2020 The patients had a subtype of lung cancer known as squamous non-small-cell lung cancer. Peter Loftus, WSJ, 4 June 2018 Patients in the study had an advanced stage of non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer. Denise Grady, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Apr. 2018 Any restoration – from totally squamous to poofed up with down – require speculation. Brian Switek, Scientific American Blog Network, 14 June 2017
New York Times, 21 Apr. 2021 Rivera, 58, who grew up in Seaside and was an All-America linebacker at Cal, successfully finished seven weeks of chemotherapy and proton radiation treatment in late October for squamous-cell cancer in his throat. Eric Branch, SFChronicle.com, 10 Dec. 2020 The patients had a subtype of lung cancer known as squamous non-small-cell lung cancer. Peter Loftus, WSJ, 4 June 2018 Patients in the study had an advanced stage of non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer. Denise Grady, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Apr. 2018 Any restoration – from totally squamous to poofed up with down – require speculation. Brian Switek, Scientific American Blog Network, 14 June 2017 Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin squamosus, from squama scale
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing squamous
Medical Definition
squamous
adjective
squa·mous ˈskwā-məs
1
a
: covered with or consisting of scales
b
: of, relating to, or being a stratified epithelium that consists at least in its outer layers of small scalelike cells
The epidermis is a stratified squamous epithelium forming the barrier that excludes harmful microbes and retains body fluids. Terry Lechler et al., Nature
Terry Lechler et al., Nature2
: resembling a scale or plate
especially : of, relating to, or being the thin anterior upper portion of the temporal bone
squamous
adjective
as in scaled
composed of or covered with scales a squamous plant bulb Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- scaled
- scaly
- scalelike
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- scaleless
- smooth