— epithelial , adj.
/ep'euh thee"lee euhm/ , n. , pl. epitheliums, epithelia /-lee euh/ . Biol.
any animal tissue that covers a surface, or lines a cavity or the like, and that, in addition, performs any of various secretory, transporting, or regulatory functions.
[ 1740-50; epi- EPI- + thel ( é ) teat + NL -ium -IUM ]