foliage

[foh-lee-ij]

noun

1. the leaves of a plant, collectively; leafage.

2. leaves in general.

3. the representation of leaves, flowers, and branches in painting, architectural ornament, etc.

foliage

/ ˈfəʊlɪɪdʒ /

noun

1. the green leaves of a plant

2. sprays of leaves used for decoration

3. an ornamental leaflike design

Other Word Forms

• foliaged adjective
• unfoliaged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of foliage¹

1400–50; late Middle English foilage < Middle French fueillage, foillage, derivative of feuille leaf; influenced by Latin folium folium. See foil ², -age

Word History and Origins

Origin of foliage¹

C15: from Old French fuellage , from fuelle leaf; influenced in form by Latin folium

Example Sentences

With a flourish, the maître d’ held back an armful of foliage so that Penelope could enter the leafy, secluded room.

Read more on Literature

Want to find fall foliage in and around Los Angeles?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"Everything has changed," said 76-year-old local Yusuf Mohammed, adding that the tree's dense foliage attracted wild animals that attack their livestock.

Read more on Barron's

The rest of the home is already decked out for Thanksgiving with ceramic pumpkins and strings of orange and gold decorative foliage.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But if they hit turf grass instead of leaves or other foliage at the bottom, their chances of survival are slim.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• vegetation