glabrous

Glabrous is an adjective used in biology to describe surfaces, tissues, or organisms that are free from hairs or other hair-like projections. The word comes from Latin glaber, meaning smooth or bald, and in modern usage appears in botany, anatomy, mycology, and related fields to denote smoothness or lack of pubescence.

In botany, glabrous describes plant parts with no trichomes (hairs). Leaves, stems, fruits, and flowers may be glabrous, or a plant may be described as glabrescent if it loses hairs as it ages. Glabrous surfaces contrast with pubescent, tomentose, or pilose textures, and the term is a standard part of taxonomic descriptions and floras. Detection is typically by close inspection, sometimes with magnification, to confirm absence of hairs.

In anatomy and dermatology, glabrous refers to skin or mucous membranes that lack hair. Glabrous skin includes the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet, as well as certain internal surfaces in some animals. These areas are characterized by a relatively thick epidermis and distinctive texture compared with hairy skin.

Outside such contexts, glabrous can describe any surface devoid of hair-like structures, including seeds, fruits, or fungal thalli. The term is used to convey smoothness in scientific notes, field guides, and taxonomic keys without implying other morphological traits.