tissue

 
Pronunciation: /ˈtɪʃuː, ˈtɪsjuː/

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1any of the distinct types of material of which animals or plants are made, consisting of specialized cells and their products: inflammation is a reaction of living tissue to infection or injury (tissues) the organs and tissues of the body
  • 2tissue paper.
  • [count noun] a disposable piece of absorbent paper, used especially as a handkerchief or for cleaning the skin: a box of tissues
  • rich or fine material of a delicate or gauzy texture: [as modifier]: the blue and silver tissue sari
  • 3 [in singular] an intricate structure or network made from a number of connected items: such scandalous stories are a tissue of lies

Derivatives

tissuey

adjective

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French tissu 'woven', past participle of tistre, from Latin texere 'to weave'. The word originally denoted a rich material, often interwoven with gold or silver threads, later (mid 16th century) any woven fabric, hence the notion of 'intricacy'