liana

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

noun

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

liana

/ lɪˈɑːnə; lɪˈɑːn /

noun

1. any of various woody climbing plants mainly of tropical forests

Derived Forms

• liˈanoid, adjective

Other Words From

• li·anoid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of liana¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of liana¹

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

Example Sentences

Mamoon and his second wife, Liana, hope it will revive his reputation, and “prompt the reissuing of his books in forty languages.”

From The Daily Beast

To an extent, such ambitions are complementary, yet Liana is not interested in “extreme biography.”

From The Daily Beast

He then slaps and punches another woman, Liana Kanelli, from the Communist Party, across the face—three times.

From The Daily Beast

The “Baavian-touw” (Anglice, “baboon-rope”) is a species of climbing plant, or liana, with long stems and heart-shaped leaves.

From Project Gutenberg

Unless, as Norris had conjectured, he had swung himself over the bank by the means of some liana.

From Project Gutenberg

Nowhere, so far as the forest followed the stream, was there a loose liana near the bank on either side.

From Project Gutenberg

Doors and windows may be made of wickerwork of liana, of split cabbage palm, or of a frame of sticks thatched with palm leaves.

From Project Gutenberg

All this framework is firmly bound together by means of ropes of liana (fig. 7).

From Project Gutenberg