Definition of meristem

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< merino

meristic >

mer·i·stem    (mr-stm) KEY 

NOUN:

The undifferentiated plant tissue from which new cells are formed, as that at the tip of a stem or root.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Greek meristos, divided (from merizein, to divide, from meris, division; see (s)mer-² in Indo-European roots) + -em (as in xylem, and phloem )

OTHER FORMS:
meri·ste·matic  (-st-mtk) KEY (Adjective), meri·ste·mati·cal·ly(Adverb)