Cutinizing

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Undergoing the formation of cutin, a waxy substance that coats and protects the outer surface of plants
2. Developing a waxy cuticle on plant tissues as a protective barrier against water loss and external damage
3. Forming a thin, wax-like coating on plants that serves to waterproof and shield the epidermis

Etymology: Cutin is a waxy, water-repellent polymer that forms the protective outer layer, the cuticle, of plants. The name comes from the Latin "cutis," meaning skin, so cutin is literally the material of a plant's skin. The verb "cutinize" combines that noun with the suffix "-ize," which turns a noun into a verb meaning to make or treat something in a particular way. To cutinize a plant tissue is to deposit or impregnate it with cutin, which thickens its outer surface and helps it hold in moisture. "Cutinizing" is the form of that verb used for the ongoing process itself. Because cutin is built from the same family of Latin roots as "cuticle" and "cutaneous," the word links the waterproofing of a leaf to the skin of an animal.