procumbent

[proh-kuhm-buhnt]

adjective

1. lying on the face; prone; prostrate.

2. Botany.,  (of a plant or stem) lying along the ground, but not putting forth roots.

procumbent

/ prəʊˈkʌmbənt /

adjective

1. Also: prostrate. (of stems) growing along the ground

2. leaning forwards or lying on the face

Word History and Origins

Origin of procumbent¹

1660–70; < Latin prōcumbent- (stem of prōcumbēns ) bending forward, present participle of prōcumbere. See pro- ¹, incumbent

Word History and Origins

Origin of procumbent¹

C17: from Latin prōcumbere to fall forwards; compare _incumbent

Example Sentences

"Somewhat unexpectedly, both pairs of premaxillary teeth project anteriorly and laterally at the base, implying a procumbent nature atypical of tylosaurines," the study reads.

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A procumbent, prostrate or sometimes creeping shrub; scale-like leaves acute; berry on short recurved peduncles, 3–5´´ in diameter.—Rocky banks, borders of swamps, etc.,

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Incisors not rooted but continuously growing; those of the upper jaw curved and directed downwards; those of the lower straight and procumbent.

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Skull: Larger in every measurement taken; premaxillae extended farther posteriorly to nasals; extension of supraoccipital posterior to lambdoidal suture markedly less; tympanic bullae actually as well as relatively smaller; upper incisors longer and more procumbent.

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Leaves.—Mostly alternate on the flowering stems, but smaller and broader ones often opposite or whorled on the procumbent shoots; linear; smooth.

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