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ta·pe·tum  (tə-pētəm)
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Tweet n.pl. ta·pe·ta(-tə) 1. Botany A nutritive tissue that surrounds certain developing spores, particularly the microspores within an anther. 2. Anatomy a. A reflective membrane in the back of the eye of many animals that are active during low-light conditions. b. A layer of fibers of the corpus callosum forming the roof of part of the lateral ventricle of the brain. [Medieval Latin tapētum, coverlet, fromLatin tapēte, *tapētum, from Greek tapēs, tapēt-; see TAPESTRY.] ta·petal(-pētl)adj. |
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