noun

membrane

/ˈmɛmbreɪn/ · say it: MEM·brayn

a thin barrier controlling what enters and leaves a cell

In Science & Nature

In more detail

1. (noun) a thin, flexible sheet of tissue that covers, separates, or lines parts of an animal or plant body

2. (noun) a thin sheet of material used to let some things pass through while blocking others

Examples

1. The cell membrane controls what enters and exits the cell.
2. Water filters through the membrane to remove impurities.

How to use membrane

Membrane is a technical but widely used term in biology and related fields, referring to either natural structures in living organisms or artificial filtering materials in industrial and scientific contexts. It appears frequently in medical, biological, and engineering discourse.

Common phrases

cell membrane
permeable membrane
thin membrane
mucous membrane
semipermeable membrane
membrane protein

Synonyms

layer · barrier · lining · partition · film

Word family

membranous (adjective)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse membrane with epidermis or dermis; remember that a membrane is any thin, flexible lining or barrier, while epidermis and dermis specifically refer to skin layers.

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