/kawr"teks/ , n. , pl. cortices /-teuh seez'/ .
1. Anat. , Zool.
a. the outer region of an organ or structure, as the outer portion of the kidney.
b. the cerebral cortex.
2. Bot.
a. the portion of a stem between the epidermis and the vascular tissue; bark.
b. any outer layer, as rind.
3. Mycol. the surface tissue layer of a fungus or lichen, composed of massed hyphal cells.
[ 1650-60; ]