Pronunciation: ˌ pr ō -t ə - ' n ē -m ə
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -ne · ma · ta \ - ' n ē -m ə -t ə , - ' ne- \
Etymology: New Latin protonemat-, protonema, from prot- + Greek n ē ma thread ― more at NEMAT-
Date: 1857
: the primary usually filamentous thalloid stage of the gametophyte in mosses and in some liverworts comparable to the prothallus in ferns
– pro · to · ne · mal \ - ' n ē -m ə l \ adjective
– pro · to · ne · ma · tal \ - ' n ē -m ə -t ə l, - ' ne- \ adjective