spatulate

American  

[spach-uh-lit, -leyt] / ˈspætʃ ə lɪt, -ˌleɪt /

adjective

1. shaped like a spatula; rounded more or less like a spoon.

2. Botany. having a broad, rounded end and a narrow, attenuate base, as a leaf.

---

spatulate British  

/ ˈspætjʊlɪt /

adjective

1. shaped like a spatula

2. Also: spathulate.  botany having a narrow base and a broad rounded apex

   a spatulate leaf

---

Other Word Forms

• subspatulate adjective

Etymology

Origin of spatulate

From the New Latin word spatulātus, dating back to 1750–60. See spatula, -ate ¹

Example Sentences

As they report in Plant Species Biology, the petals of Drosera tokaiensis and Drosera spatulate fold up within two to 10 minutes after parts of their stem, calyx, or closed flowers are pressed with tweezers.

From National Geographic

There’s something about that flared, spatulate bill that we find endearing, and humans are drawn to defend the charismatic, the peculiar, and the unique.

From Scientific American

He was a sad, birdlike man with the spatulate face and scrubbed, tapering features of a well-groomed rat.

From Literature

The report concludes that the “spatulate shape of his hand and finger tips probably account for his restless energy.”

From Forbes

Trailing; leaves thick and evergreen, obovate or spatulate, entire, smooth; fruit red.—Rocks and bare hills, N. J. and Penn. to Mo., and far north and westward.

From Project Gutenberg