INTERSTICE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does interstice mean? 

• INTERSTICE (noun)
  The noun INTERSTICE has 2 senses:

1. a small structural space between tissues or parts of an organ

2. small opening between things

  Familiarity information: INTERSTICE used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INTERSTICE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A small structural space between tissues or parts of an organ

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Context example:

the interstices of a network

Hypernyms ("interstice" is a kind of...):

anatomical structure; bodily structure; body structure; complex body part; structure (a particular complex anatomical part of a living thing and its construction and arrangement)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "interstice"):

areola (small space in a tissue or body part such as the area between veins on a leaf or an insect's wing)

Derivation:

interstitial (of or relating to interstices)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Small opening between things

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("interstice" is a kind of...):

opening (a vacant or unobstructed space that is man-made)

Derivation:

interstitial (of or relating to interstices)

 Context examples 

Drug administration to or in the interstices of a tissue.

(Interstitial Route of Administration, NCI Thesaurus)

A fluid cytoplasmic substance filling the interstices of the cytoskeleton.

(Cytoplasmic Matrix, NCI Thesaurus)

He drank enormous quantities of water, but so great was the heat of the day and of his exertions, that the water sluiced through the interstices of his flesh and out at all his pores.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

We all looked on in horrified amazement as we saw, when he stood back, the woman, with a corporeal body as real at that moment as our own, pass in through the interstice where scarce a knife-blade could have gone.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

The skin roof, stretched tightly as a drumhead, I had thought, sagged and bellied with every gust; and innumerable interstices in the walls, not so tightly stuffed with moss as Maud had supposed, disclosed themselves.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)