noun

histology

his-TOL-uh-jee

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Histology (noun) means Histology is the branch of biology that studies the microscopic structure, chemical make-up and function of the tissues of plants and animals. Example: “She spent the afternoon in the lab studying the histology of liver tissue.”

noun

Histology is the branch of biology that studies the microscopic structure, chemical make-up and function of the tissues of plants and animals.

"She spent the afternoon in the lab studying the histology of liver tissue."

"The course covers plant and animal histology in equal depth."

"A microscope is essential for any serious histology work."

medicine In a medical context, histology often refers to the microscopic examination of tissue samples to diagnose disease.

"The biopsy was sent off for histology to check for cancerous cells."

"His histology results came back clear."

"The pathologist reviewed the histology before confirming the diagnosis."

How to use histology

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishHistology is the study of tissue structure, often under a microscope.

When to use it

The word is used both in general biology and, very commonly, in a clinical or diagnostic sense.

Memory tip

If someone mentions waiting on their 'histology', they usually mean the results of a tissue biopsy.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

cytology →

Common pairings

histology report histology sample histology lab study histology histology results

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “histology” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She spent the afternoon in the lab studying the _____ of liver tissue.

Etymology

Histology combines the Greek-derived combining form histo-, relating to tissue, with the suffix -logy, meaning the study of something. The word describes the scientific study of tissue at the microscopic level.

Origin: Greek

Rhymes for histology

eulogy apology zoology biology ecology analogy geology trilogy etiology pedagogy mycology virology

See all rhymes for histology →

Frequently asked questions

What does histology mean in medicine?

In medicine, histology usually refers to examining a tissue sample under a microscope to check for disease, such as cancer.

Is histology the same as cytology?

No. Histology looks at tissue structure, while cytology examines individual cells without the surrounding tissue context.

What job studies histology?

Pathologists and histologists examine tissue samples using histology to diagnose and understand disease.

What is the meaning of histology?

"histology" (noun) means histology is the branch of biology that studies the microscopic structure, chemical make-up and function of the tissues of plants and animals.