capitate

[ kap-i-teyt ]

adjective

1. Botany. forming or shaped like a head or dense cluster.
2. Biology. having an enlarged or swollen, headlike termination.

capitate

/ ˈkæpɪˌteɪt /

adjective

1. botany shaped like a head, as certain flowers or inflorescences
2. zoology having an enlarged headlike end

   a capitate bone

capitate

/ kăp′ĭ-tāt′ /

Noun

1. The largest of the carpal bones.

Adjective

1. Forming a headlike mass or dense cluster, as the flowers of plants in the composite family.

Other Words From

• multi·capi·tate adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of capitate¹

1655–65; < Latin capitātus headed, equivalent to capit- (stem of caput ) head + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of capitate¹

C17: from Latin capitātus having a (large) head, from caput head

Example Sentences

Small capitate processes or organs, observable under the wings of Diptera, attended by a spiracle.

From Project Gutenberg

In this moss, the paraphyses are inflated at the summit into little knobs, or they are capitate (fig. 37).

From Project Gutenberg

Valve linear, capitate at each end and tumid in the middle; stri distinctly punctate; pseudoraphe indistinct, or not apparent.

From Project Gutenberg

Valve with sides parallel; apices slightly capitate and revolute; stri, 10 in 10 .

From Project Gutenberg

Valve arcuate on the dorsal and nearly straight on the ventral side; ends protracted or slightly capitate.

From Project Gutenberg