frond

American  

[frond] / frɒnd /

noun

Botany.

1. an often large, finely divided leaf, especially as applied to the ferns and certain palms.

2. a leaflike expansion not differentiated into stem and foliage, as in lichens.

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frond British  

/ frɒnd /

noun

1. a large compound leaf, esp of a fern

2. the thallus of a seaweed or a lichen

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frond Scientific  

/ frŏnd /

1. A leaf of a fern or cycad, usually consisting of multiple leaflets.

2. A large, fanlike leaf of a palm tree.

3. A leaflike structure such as the thallus of a lichen or a seaweed.

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Other Word Forms

• fronded adjective
• frondless adjective

Etymology

Origin of frond

1745–55; < Latin frond- (stem of frōns ) branch, bough, foliage

Example Sentences

He made sleeping mats stuffed with rustling palm fronds, a table and two stools, a desk, bookcases and shelves for his science stuff, coconut-shell bowls, and seashell plates.

From Literature

Dead palm fronds were tumbling across the soccer field out back.

From Literature

Togbe carried a bunch of palm fronds along on our next visit to the creek to make new fish traps, but I was more interested in hearing how he met Grandma.

From Literature

“No. That’s not why. You chose the name Fern because you loved the way ferns uncoil from fronds, like a dancer.”

From Literature

A decade later, now a professional camera operator, he found himself in a sunny field in Greenford, filming close up shots of Sir David releasing harvest mice on to a grass frond.

From BBC

Related Words

• needle
• petal
• stalk