imbricate

[ adjective im-bri-kit, -keyt; verb im-bri-keyt ]
/ adjective ˈɪm brɪ kɪt, -ˌkeɪt; verb ˈɪm brɪˌkeɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR imbricate ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

overlapping in sequence, as tiles or shingles on a roof.
of, relating to, or resembling overlapping tiles, as decoration or drawings.
Biology. overlapping like tiles, as scales or leaves.
characterized by or as if by overlapping shingles.

verb (used with or without object), im·bri·cat·ed, im·bri·cat·ing.

to overlap, as tiles or shingles.

QUIZZES

FOR POSTERITY’S SAKE, TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Are words your bailiwick? Take the latest quiz on the words from July 6 to July 12 to find out.
Question 1 of 7
bailiwick
a creature, variously described as a serpent, lizard, or dragon, said to kill by its breath or look.
place or source of origin.
a person's area of skill, knowledge, authority, or work.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of imbricate

1650–60; < Late Latin imbricātus tiled with imbrices, shaped like such a tile or tiling, equivalent to imbric- (stem of imbrex) imbrex + -ātus -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM imbricate

Words nearby imbricate

imbosom, imbower, imbracery, imbrangle, imbrex, imbricate, imbrication, imbroglio, imbros, imbrown, imbrue
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to imbricate

envelop, enfold, swathe, fold, ride, cover, twist, turn, override, wrap, swaddle, shingle, overlie, flap, overlay, project, overhang, protrude, overrun

Example sentences from the Web for imbricate

British Dictionary definitions for imbricate

imbricate

adjective (ˈɪmbrɪkɪt, -ˌkeɪt) imbricated

architect relating to or having tiles, shingles, or slates that overlap
botany (of leaves, scales, etc) overlapping each other

verb (ˈɪmbrɪˌkeɪt)

(tr) to decorate with a repeating pattern resembling scales or overlapping tiles

Derived forms of imbricate

imbricately, adverbimbrication, noun

Word Origin for imbricate

C17: from Latin imbricāre to cover with overlapping tiles, from imbrex pantile
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

Medical definitions for imbricate

imbricate
[ ĭm′brĭ-kāt′ ]

adj.

Having the edges overlapping in a regular arrangement like roof tiles or the scales of a fish.

Other words from imbricate

im′bri•ca′tion n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.