subulate

American

[soo-byuh-lit, -leyt] / ˈsu byə lɪt, -ˌleɪt /

adjective

Biology.

slender, somewhat cylindrical, and tapering to a point; awl-shaped.

subulate British

/ ˈsuːbjəlɪt, -ˌleɪt /

adjective

(esp of plant parts) tapering to a point; awl-shaped

"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

Etymology

Origin of subulate

1750–60; < New Latin sūbulātus, equivalent to Latin sūbul ( a ) awl + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Tentacula depressed, subulate, at the external base of which are the eyes.—Adanson.

From Project Gutenberg

Antenn� cylindrical, thickest near the middle, the terminal half subulate; articulations numerous, very short, hardly perceptible.

From Project Gutenberg

Creeping, simply pinnate; leaves concave, obtuse, decurved; lower lobe oblong-clavate, emarginate at base; underleaves oblong, flat, 2-cleft, the sinus obtuse; involucral leaves unequally 2-cleft, the dorsal segment oblong, pointed, nearly entire, the ventral subulate; perianth pyriform, 3-sided, obtusely keeled beneath.

From Project Gutenberg

In this species there are rudimentary subulate petals, alternate with the calyx-lobes.

From Project Gutenberg

Filaments distinct or nearly so on the ring at base of corolla, alternating with 5 subulate staminodia; anthers linear.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023