Thē'că-phōre, n.

n. [Fr. thécaphore, from Gr. θήκη, Lat. theca, a case, and φέρειν, to bear, φορός, bearing.] (Bot.) (a.) A surface or organ bearing a theca, or covered with theca. (b.) The pedicel or stipe of an ovary, in some plants;—called also gynophore, basigynium, and podogynium.