corymb

[kawr-imb, -im, kor-]

noun

Botany.

1. a form of inflorescence in which the flowers form a flat-topped or convex cluster, the outermost flowers being the first to open.

corymb

/ ˈkɒrɪmb, -rɪm /

noun

1. an inflorescence in the form of a flat-topped flower cluster with the oldest flowers at the periphery. This type of raceme occurs in the candytuft

corymb

1. An indeterminate inflorescence whose outer flowers have longer stalks than the inner flowers, so that together they form a round cluster that is rather flat on top. The outer flowers open before the inner ones. Yarrow and the hawthorn have corymbs.

2. See illustration at inflorescence

Other Word Forms

• corymbosely adverb
• corymbed adjective
• corymbose adjective
• corymblike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of corymb¹

1700–10; < Latin corymbus < Greek kórymbos head, top, cluster of fruit or flowers

Word History and Origins

Origin of corymb¹

C18: from Latin corymbus, from Greek korumbos cluster

Example Sentences

Otherwise as Tussilago.—Perennial woolly herbs, with the leaves all from the rootstock, white-woolly beneath, the scape with sheathing scaly bracts, bearing heads of purplish or whitish fragrant flowers, in a corymb.

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It has great corymbs of tiny white blossoms with tight little buff buds squeezing out among the open Roses.

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Asclepias.—A. tuberosa is a handsome fleshy-rooted plant, very impatient of being disturbed, and preferring good peat soil; it grows 1 to 1� ft. high, and bears corymbs of deep yellow and orange flowers in September.

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Corymbose, in corymbs, or in the form of a corymb.

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Rounded corymbs of these flowers on short side twigs cover the tree with a robe of white after the leaves appear.

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