Endogenous

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Endogenous \En*dog"e*nous\, a.
     1. (Bot.) Increasing by internal growth and elongation at the
        summit, instead of externally, and having no distinction
        of pith, wood, and bark, as the rattan, the palm, the
        cornstalk.
        [1913 Webster]


  
     2. (Biol.) Originating from within; increasing by internal
        growth.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Endogenous multiplication} (Biol.), a method of cell
        formation, seen in cells having a cell wall. The nucleus
        and protoplasm divide into two distinct masses; these in
        turn become divided and subdivided, each division becoming
        a new cell, until finally the original cell wall is
        ruptured and the new cells are liberated (see
        {Segmentation}, and Illust. of {Cell Division}, under
        {Division}). This mode of growth is characteristic of many
        forms of cells, both animal and vegetable.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  endogenous
       adj 1: of or resembling an endogen
       2: derived or originating internally [syn: {endogenic}] [ant: {exogenous},
           {exogenous}]