-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
nuclear membrane
noun
: a double membrane enclosing a cell nucleus and having its outer part continuous with the endoplasmic reticulum
called also nuclear envelope
see cell illustrationExamples of nuclear membrane in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This caused openings to form in the nuclear membrane but not in the exterior cellular structure as witnessed by the appearance of the dye from the nuclei showing up in the cell's cytoplasm.
—Michael Franco, New Atlas, 3 Oct. 2024
That's not an easy task to accomplish because the nuclear membrane is a notoriously tough shield that protects our genetic code.
—Michael Franco, New Atlas, 3 Oct. 2024
More complex organisms like ourselves descend from eukaryotes, which have a nuclear membrane around their DNA (as opposed to prokaryotes, which don’t).
—Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 2 Feb. 2024
Something else in a cell is octagonal: the pores in the nuclear membrane, through which molecules pass between the nucleus and the cytoplasm.
—Betsy Hanson, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
There is, therefore, no physical connection, not even contact between your DNA, which is in your chromosomes, in the nucleus of your cells, and the messenger RNA you are injected with, which simply crosses the cell membrane (never the nuclear membrane) and is processed outside the nucleus.
—Enrique Dans, Forbes, 16 May 2021
First, the mRNA would need a nuclear signal to be able to get through the nuclear membrane into the nucleus of a cell.
—Nate Trela, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2022
Messenger RNA is not processed in the cell nucleus, but in ribosomes, outside the nuclear membrane.
—Enrique Dans, Forbes, 16 May 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Word History
First Known Use
1852, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near nuclear membrane
Cite this Entry
“Nuclear membrane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nuclear%20membrane. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
nuclear membrane
noun
: a double membrane enclosing a cell nucleus
called also nuclear envelope
Medical Definition
nuclear membrane
noun
: a double membrane enclosing a cell nucleus and having its outer part continuous with the endoplasmic reticulum
called also karyotheca
More from Merriam-Webster on nuclear membrane
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nuclear membrane
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share