WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
ap•o•the•ci•um
(ap′ə thē′shē əm, -sē-),USA pronunciation n., pl. -ci•a (-shē ə, -sē ə).USA pronunciation [Bot., Mycol.]
ap•o•the•cial
(ap′ə thē′shəl),USA pronunciation adj.
- Botany, Fungithe fruit of certain lichens and fungi: usually an open, saucer-shaped or cup-shaped body, the inner surface of which is covered with a layer that bears asci.
- Greek apo- apo- + thēkíon, equivalent. to thé̄k(ē) case (see theca) + -ion diminutive suffix
- Neo-Latin
- 1820–30;
'apothecium' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):