Definition

Relating to the functional tissue of an organ, especially in plants and animals, that is responsible for carrying out specific functions.

Example

The parenchymatous cells in the plant are essential for photosynthesis and storage.

Conversation

I read an article about plant cells last night.

Oh really? What did you learn?

They talked about how parenchymatous tissues are so important for plant function.

That sounds interesting! I never knew they played such a big role.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Parenchymatous → It is formed from "parenchyma" (from Greek "parenchyma", meaning something poured in beside) and the suffix "-tous" (meaning characterized by). The word describes tissue that is characterized by the functional parts of an organ, as opposed to the supportive or connective tissues.

Memory Tip

Think of 'parenchyma' as the 'functional tissue' of an organ, and '-tous' means characterized by, so parenchymatous refers to tissue characterized by its functional role.

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