What does stomate mean?
A stomate is a tiny pore in the epidermis of a plant, particularly a leaf, that allows carbon dioxide, oxygen, and water vapour to move between the plant and the surrounding air. Each stomate is bordered by two specialized guard cells that control whether the pore opens or closes. When stomates open, carbon dioxide can enter and support photosynthesis, but water vapour can also escape. When water is scarce, plants close their stomates to reduce transpiration, showing that these structures are central to the balance between photosynthesis and water conservation. In botanical and plant-science writing, stoma is more usual for an individual opening, while stomata is the standard plural form. Stomate remains a recognized and precise term, especially in descriptions of plant anatomy, physiology, drought response, and gas-exchange measurements.
nounA stomate is a small pore in the epidermis of a plant, especially a leaf, through which gases such as carbon dioxide and oxygen are exchanged and water vapour is released. Its opening and closing are controlled by surrounding guard cells.
- A stomate is a pore or opening in the epidermis of a plant, especially a leaf, involved in gas exchange and the regulation of water loss.
"The plant closes its stomates when water becomes scarce, reducing the amount of water lost through transpiration."
"The number and behaviour of stomates can reveal how effectively a plant copes with drought conditions."
"In the microscope image, each open stomate appeared as a dark slit bordered by two guard cells."
This is the regular plural, though botanical literature more commonly uses stomata, the traditional plural of stoma.
"The researcher counted the open stomates on the lower surface of each leaf."
A stomate is a leaf's tiny climate-control valve, opening for carbon dioxide and closing when water needs conserving.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stomate come from?
Stomate comes through scientific botanical usage from Greek stōma, meaning “mouth” or “opening.” The related English word stoma was established as the botanical term for a plant pore, and stomate developed alongside the more familiar plural stomata. The same Greek root also underlies words such as stomatal, stomatitis, and stomatology.
How stomate is actually used
Stomate is a technical botanical term. The singular form is less common in modern scientific prose than stoma, whose established plural is stomata.
Easily confused with stomate
A stoma is the standard botanical term for the pore or opening itself, while stomate is a less common singular form; stomata is the usual plural in botanical writing.