liana

[ lee-ah-nuh, -an-uh ]

noun

any of various usually woody vines that may climb as high as the tree canopy in a tropical forest.

Origin of liana

1790–1800; earlier liannes (plural), apparently misspelling of French lianes, plural of liane, derivative of lier to bind; spelling with -a is Latinized or pseudo-Spanish

Also li·ane [lee-ahn]. /liˈɑn/.

Other words from liana

li·a·noid, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use liana in a sentence

A noticeable plant was a very large Viburnum, which has a liane-like habit and clambers up high trees.
A Journal from Japan | Marie Carmichael Stopes
The more wary had armed themselves with a liane, to which they fastened their victims by the gills.
Indo-China and Its Primitive People | Henry Baudesson
"I think they'd fight, to the death, if Liane ordered them to," I replied thoughtfully.
Priestess of the Flame | Sewell Peaslee Wright
The two planned to marry, after the war; but Liane had been struck by a flying fragment of shell, and wounded in the head.
Everyman's Land | C. N. Williamson and A. M. Williamson
Since then he spoke only to rave of Liane and Jean; how beautiful they had looked, lying dead before the wrecked altar.
Everyman's Land | C. N. Williamson and A. M. Williamson

British Dictionary definitions for liana

liana

liane (lɪˈɑːn)

/ (lɪˈɑːnə) /

noun

any of various woody climbing plants mainly of tropical forests

Origin of liana

C19: changed from earlier liane (through influence of French lier to bind), from French, of obscure origin

Derived forms of liana

lianoid, adjective

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

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