tunic

/ˈtunɪk/

/ˈtunɪk/

Other forms: tunics

A tunic is a loose-fitting shirt that looks sort of like a long shirt or a short dress. For a fashionable summer look, you might pair trousers with a comfortable tunic that extends past your waist.

The ancient Greeks and Romans were early fans of the tunic, and the loose-fitting garment remains popular in modern times. A tunic is popular wardrobe choice in hot, tropical regions because it's loose fitting and comfortable and helps you stay cool. Tunic can also refer to a membrane or tissue that covers something, like an organ or part of a plant. Some plants like tulips and onions have a protective tunic covering the outside of their bulb.

Definitions of tunic

1. noun

   any of a variety of loose fitting cloaks extending to the hips or knees
   types:

   chiton

   a woolen tunic worn by men and women in ancient Greece

   gymslip

   a sleeveless tunic worn by English girls as part of a school uniform

   kameez

   a long tunic worn by many people from the Indian subcontinent (usually with a salwar or churidars)

   kirtle

   a garment resembling a tunic that was worn by men in the Middle Ages

   surcoat

   a tunic worn over a knight's armor

   tabard

   a short sleeveless outer tunic emblazoned with a coat of arms; worn by a knight over his armor or by a herald

   type of:

   cloak

   a loose outer garment
2. noun

   an enveloping or covering membrane or layer of body tissue
   synonyms: adventitia, tunica

   types:

   albuginea

   whitish tunic

   sclera, sclerotic coat

   the whitish fibrous membrane (albuginea) that with the cornea forms the outer covering and protection of the eyeball

   tunica albuginea testes

   whitish cover of the testicle

   type of:

   membrane, tissue layer

   a pliable sheet of tissue that covers or lines or connects the organs or cells of animals or plants