Definition of: parenchyma

(pə·reng′ki·mə) noun Biol.
1. The soft cellular substance of glandular and other organs.
2. The proper substance of an organ, excluding the connective tissue and the like.
3. Bot. The thin-walled, soft cell tissue of higher plants, as found in stem pith and in the pulp of fruits. Also pa·ren′chyme (-kīm). [<NL <Gk., lit., something poured in beside <para- beside + enchyma infusion]
—par·en·chym·a·tous (par′eng·kim′ə·təs) adjective