soma

soma — noun

1. the part of a living thing that makes up its body and is distinct from the cells

1.名詞C2
釋義

the part of a living thing that makes up its body and is distinct from the cells that produce eggs or sperm

例句

Dr. Folake explained that changes in the soma do not affect future generations.

contrast: soma vs germ line

The soma of a plant includes all its tissues except the cells that form seeds.

同義詞
  • body

    broader and everyday term; 'soma' is strictly technical and excludes germ cells

  • somatic cells

    the individual cells that make up the soma, often used interchangeably in biology texts

反義詞
  • germ line

    the reproductive cells and their precursors, excluded from the soma

文法句型

the soma of + noun phrase

用法筆記

This sense appears mainly in genetics and evolutionary biology, where the distinction between the soma and the germ line is important for understanding how traits are inherited.

常見錯誤

❌Soma means the whole body of an organism including all organs.
✅Soma refers to the body of an organism excluding its reproductive cells.
💡The germ cells are not part of the soma.

2. the rounded central region inside a neuron, where the nucleus is located and fro

2.名詞C2
釋義

the rounded central region inside a neuron, where the nucleus is located and from which the rest of the cell receives its instructions for growth and activity

例句

Under the microscope, Sofia traced each soma's outline and noted its position among the dendrites.

microscope: visualising the soma among dendrites

Reuben's research showed that damage to the soma affects how the entire neuron functions.

同義詞
  • cell body

    the common everyday term for the soma in neurobiology; fully interchangeable

  • perikaryon

    a more technical synonym used in advanced neuroscience; same meaning

文法句型

the soma of + noun phrase

用法筆記

The soma is one of the three main parts of a neuron, along with the dendrites (which receive signals) and the axon (which sends signals). In anatomy texts, 'cell body' is a common synonym.

常見錯誤

❌The soma is the long fibre that carries signals away from the nerve cell.
✅The soma is the central, rounded part of the nerve cell that contains the nucleus.
💡The long fibre is the axon, not the soma.

3. a plant-based liquid with mind-altering properties, offered to divine beings dur

3.名詞C2
釋義

a plant-based liquid with mind-altering properties, offered to divine beings during ancient Indian religious practices and described in Vedic texts as a source of spiritual power

例句

The ancient hymns describe soma as a golden drink that gave warriors strength in battle.

register: Vedic ritual context

Priests prepared soma by crushing a mountain plant and mixing the juice with milk and water.

同義詞
  • haoma

    the Zoroastrian equivalent of soma; refers to the same or a very similar ritual drink in ancient Persian tradition

  • ambrosia

    in Greek mythology, the food or drink of the gods that grants immortality; a functional parallel, though from a different cultural tradition

文法句型

soma is + adjective + drink/liquid

用法筆記

The exact plant used to make soma is no longer known with certainty; scholars have suggested several candidates, including the fly agaric mushroom and various species of ephedra.

常見錯誤

❌Soma is a modern energy drink.
✅Soma was a sacred drink used in ancient Indian Vedic rituals, not a modern beverage.
💡The word refers to a historical ritual substance, not a contemporary product.