taenia

noun

tae·​nia ˈtē-nē-ə How to pronounce taenia (audio)
variants or less commonly tenia
plural taeniae ˈtē-nē-ˌī How to pronounce taenia (audio) -ˌē How to pronounce taenia (audio) or taenias
1
: a band on a Doric order separating the frieze from the architrave
2
3
: an ancient Greek fillet

Examples of taenia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Additionally, winners may have received a woolen ribbon, called a taenia, to wrap around their heads and a palm frond to brandish. Marisa Sloan, Discover Magazine, 5 Aug. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Latin, ribbon, fillet, from Greek tainia; akin to Greek teinein to stretch — more at thin

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of taenia was in 1563

Dictionary Entries Near taenia

Cite this Entry

“Taenia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/taenia. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

taenia

noun
tae·​nia ˈtē-nē-ə How to pronounce taenia (audio)
1
a
also tenia plural taenias also tenias : tapeworm
b
capitalized : a genus of cyclophyllidean tapeworms that is the type of the family Taeniidae, that comprises forms usually occurring as adults in the intestines of carnivores and as larvae in various ruminants, and that includes the beef tapeworm (T. saginata) and the pork tapeworm (T. solium) of humans
2
also tenia plural taeniae -nē-ˌē How to pronounce taenia (audio) -ˌī How to pronounce taenia (audio) or taenias also teniae or tenias : a band of nervous tissue or of muscle
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