phloem

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

First attested in 1872. From German Phloëm, coined by Swiss botanist Carl Nägeli in 1858 from Ancient Greek φλόος (phlóos, husk, bark) + a Greek-sounding ending -em (cf. System).

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈfləʊ.əm/, /ˈfləʊ.ɛm/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)
  • (General American) enPR: flōʹəm, IPA(key): /ˈfloʊ.əm/, /ˈfloʊ.ɛm/
  • Rhymes: -əʊəm, -əʊɛm

Noun

phloem (countable and uncountable, plural phloems)

  1. (botany) A vascular tissue in land plants primarily responsible for the distribution of sugars and nutrients manufactured in the shoot.

Coordinate terms

Derived terms

Translations

Further reading