imbrication

[im-bri-key-shuh n]

noun

an overlapping, as of tiles or shingles.
a decoration or pattern resembling this.
Surgery. overlapping of layers of tissue in the closure of wounds or in the correction of defects.

Geology. shingling.

Origin of imbrication

First recorded in 1640–50; imbricate + -ion

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for imbrication

Historical Examples

This imbrication is frequently of an exquisite, dull, reddish brown over an old soft yellow.
Alaska
Ella Higginson

Word Origin and History for imbrication

n.

1640s, from French imbrication, from Latin imbricare "to cover with tiles," from imbricem (nominative imbrex) "curved roof tile used to draw off rain," from imber (genitive imbris) "rain," from PIE *ombh-ro- "rain" (cf. Sanskrit abhra "cloud, thunder-cloud, rainy weather," Greek ombros "rain"), from root *nebh- "moist, water" (see nebula).