foliate

[ adjective foh-lee-it, -eyt; verb foh-lee-eyt ]

/ adjective ˈfoʊ li ɪt, -ˌeɪt; verb ˈfoʊ liˌeɪt /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: foliate / foliated / foliates / foliating on Thesaurus.com

adjective

covered with or having leaves.

like a leaf, as in shape.

Also foliated. Architecture.

ornamented with or composed of foil: foliate tracery.
ornamented with representations of foliage: a foliate capital.

Petrology, Mineralogy. foliated (def. 2).

verb (used without object), fo·li·at·ed, fo·li·at·ing.

to put forth leaves.

to split into thin leaflike layers or laminae.

verb (used with object), fo·li·at·ed, fo·li·at·ing.

to shape like a leaf or leaves.

to decorate with foils or foliage.

to form into thin sheets.

to spread over with a thin metallic backing.

Printing. to number the folios or leaves, as distinguished from pages, of (a manuscript or book).

QUIZ

GOOSES. GEESES. I WANT THIS QUIZ ON PLURAL NOUNS!

Test how much you really know about regular and irregular plural nouns with this quiz.

Question 1 of 9

Which of the following nouns has an irregular plural form?

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of foliate

First recorded in 1620–30, foliate is from the Latin word foliātus leafy. See folium, -ate¹

OTHER WORDS FROM foliate

sub·fo·li·ate, adjective

Words nearby foliate

folia, foliaceous, foliage, foliage plant, foliar, foliate, foliated, foliated joint, foliate papilla, foliation, foliature

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use foliate in a sentence

High pillars with crocketed and foliate capitals supported the springing of the large irregular arches.
Ypres and the Battles of Ypres|Unknown
The general effect of the design remained the same, but the foliate ornamentation gave place to angular outlines.
Canada: Its Postage Stamps and Postal Stationery|Clifton Armstrong Howes
The capitals of the naves triforium are said to mark the culmination of Gothic art in foliate design.
How France Built Her Cathedrals|Elizabeth Boyle O'Reilly
The south portal (c. 1260), sculptured with elaborate foliate ornament, has images of unequal merit.
How France Built Her Cathedrals|Elizabeth Boyle O'Reilly

The triforium was begun elaborately, with much foliate decoration, but economy soon forced the architect to adopt a simpler plan.
How France Built Her Cathedrals|Elizabeth Boyle O'Reilly

British Dictionary definitions for foliate

foliate

adjective (ˈfəʊlɪɪt, -ˌeɪt)

relating to, possessing, or resembling leaves
in combinationtrifoliate

(of certain metamorphic rocks, esp schists) having the constituent minerals arranged in thin leaflike layers

verb (ˈfəʊlɪˌeɪt)

(tr) to ornament with foliage or with leaf forms such as foils

to hammer or cut (metal) into thin plates or foil

(tr) to coat or back (glass, etc) with metal foil

(tr) to number the leaves of (a book, manuscript, etc)Compare paginate

(intr) (of plants) to grow leaves

Word Origin for foliate

C17: from Latin foliātus leaved, leafy

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

foliate

Origin of foliate

OTHER WORDS FROM foliate

Words nearby foliate

Words related to foliate

How to use foliate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for foliate

Word Origin for foliate