a thin pliable sheet of material
"The delicate membrane stretched across the opening without breaking under its own weight."
a pliable sheet of tissue that covers or lines or connects the organs or cells of animals or plants
"The thin membrane covering the lungs allows oxygen to pass through easily during breathing."
A flexible enclosing or separating tissue forming a plane or film and separating two environments.
"The delicate membrane separates the fluid inside the cell from the external environment."
A mechanical, thin, flat flexible part that can deform or vibrate when excited by an external force.
"The loudspeaker membrane vibrates to produce sound waves when the electrical signal excites it."
In plain English: A membrane is a thin, flexible layer of tissue that covers an organ or separates two body parts.
"The thin membrane on your finger separated from the skin when you scratched too hard."
Usage: In everyday usage, membrane refers to the biological layer of cells rather than technical vibrating parts used in engineering. Use this word for thin, flexible barriers that separate spaces or enclose tissues instead of solid walls or rigid sheets.
The word "membrane" entered Late Middle English from Latin membrāna, which originally meant a skin covering parts of the body. This term was formed by combining membrum (a limb or member) with the suffix -āna.