imbricate

[ adjective im-bri-kit, -keyt; verb im-bri-keyt ]

adjective

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

verb (used with or without object)

, im·bri·cat·ed, im·bri·cat·ing.

1. to overlap, as tiles or shingles.

imbricate

adjective

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

verb

1. tr to decorate with a repeating pattern resembling scales or overlapping tiles

Derived Forms

• ˌimbriˈcation, noun
• ˈimbricately, adverb

Other Words From

• imbri·cate·ly adverb
• imbri·cative adjective
• non·imbri·cate adjective
• non·imbri·cate·ly adverb
• non·imbri·cated adjective
• non·imbri·cating adjective
• non·imbri·cative adjective
• sub·imbri·cate adjective
• sub·imbri·cate·ly adverb
• sub·imbri·cated adjective
• sub·imbri·cative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of imbricate¹

1650–60; < Late Latin imbricātus tiled with imbrices, shaped like such a tile or tiling, equivalent to imbric- (stem of imbrex ) imbrex + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of imbricate¹

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

Example Sentences

The first and oldest of these varieties is generally called Scale or Imbricate armour.

From Project Gutenberg

Sepals and petals colored alike, in three or more rows of three, imbricate.

From Project Gutenberg

Sepals and petals imbricate, each in two rows of three (rarely in twos or fours).

From Project Gutenberg

Sporocarps sessile beneath the stem; small, floating, pinnately branched, with minute imbricate leaves.

From Project Gutenberg

Antheridia 3–20, in the axils of small saccate leaves, which are scarcely imbricate or crowded into terminal heads.

From Project Gutenberg