cyme

American

[sahym] / saɪm /

noun

an inflorescence in which the primary axis bears a single central or terminal flower that blooms first.
a flat or convex inflorescence of this type.

cyme British

/ saɪm, saɪˈmɪfərəs /

noun

an inflorescence in which the first flower is the terminal bud of the main stem and subsequent flowers develop as terminal buds of lateral stems

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

cyme Scientific

/ sīm /

A usually flat-topped or convex determinate inflorescence in which the central main stem and each side branch end in a flower. The flowers in the cluster begin blooming from the flower on the main stem downwards or outwards. Baby's breath, dogwood, and the tomato have cymes.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

cymiferous

adjective

Etymology

Origin of cyme

1595–1605; < Latin cȳma cabbage sprout < Greek kŷma; see cyma

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

CYME, a maritime town of Æolia in Asia.

From A Dialogue Concerning Oratory, Or The Causes Of Corrupt Eloquence The Works Of Cornelius Tacitus, Volume 8 (of 8); With An Essay On His Life And Genius, Notes, Supplements by Tacitus, Cornelius

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023