labiate

[ley-bee-it, -eyt]

adjective

1. having parts that are shaped or arranged like lips; lipped.

2. Botany.

   1. belonging to the plant family Labiatae (or Lamiaceae).

   2. two-lipped; bilabiate: said of a gamopetalous corolla or gamosepalous calyx.

noun

1. a labiate plant.

labiate

/ ˈleɪbɪˌeɪt, -ɪt /

noun

1. any plant of the family Lamiaceae (formerly Labiatae ), having square stems, aromatic leaves, and a two-lipped corolla: includes mint, thyme, sage, rosemary, etc

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the family Lamiaceae

Other Word Forms

• unlabiate adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of labiate¹

From the New Latin word labiātus, dating back to 1700–10. See labium, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of labiate¹

C18: from New Latin labiātus, from Latin labium lip

Example Sentences

Bees are among the highest forms of insect life, and the labiate flowers are adapted to their visits; these nearly all have purple or blue petals—Thyme, Sage, Mint, Marjoram, Basil, Prunella, etc.

From Project Gutenberg

Monarda.—Handsome labiate plants, flowering towards autumn, and preferring a cool soil and partially shaded situation.

From Project Gutenberg

The cohesion is sometimes irregular, some parts uniting to a greater extent than others; thus a two-lipped or labiate calyx is formed.

From Project Gutenberg

They are four as in labiate flowers, two small, and two longer ones near the other side.

From Project Gutenberg

Aju′ga, a genus of plants belonging to the labiate family.

From Project Gutenberg