tendril
[ ten-dril ]
/ ˈtɛn drɪl /
noun Botany.
a threadlike, leafless organ of climbing plants, often growing in spiral form, which attaches itself to or twines round some other body, so as to support the plant.
Nearby words
tendoplasty, tendosynovitis, tendotomy, tendovaginal, tendovaginitis, tendril, tendrilly, tendu, tendulkar, tenebrae, tenebrific
Origin of tendril
1530–40; earlier tendrel, variant (perhaps by dissimilation) of Middle English tendren, tendron < Middle French tendron shoot, sprout, cartilage
Related formsten·dril·lar, ten·dril·ous, adjectiveten·dril·ly, adjective
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for tendril
British Dictionary definitions for tendril
tendril
/ (ˈtɛndrɪl) /
noun
a specialized threadlike part of a leaf or stem that attaches climbing plants to a support by twining or adhering
something resembling a tendril, such as a wisp of hair
Derived Formstendrillar or tendrilous, adjective
Word Origin for tendril
C16: perhaps from Old French tendron tendril (confused with Old French tendron bud), from Medieval Latin tendō tendon
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for tendril
tendril
1530s, from Middle French tendrillon "bud, shoot, cartilage," perhaps a diminutive of tendron "cartilage," from Old French tendre "soft" (see tender (adj.)), or else from Latin tendere "to stretch, extend" (see tender (v.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Science definitions for tendril
tendril
[ tĕn′drəl ]
A slender, coiling plant part, often a modified leaf or leaf part, that helps support the stem of some climbing angiosperms by clinging to or winding around an object. Peas, squash, and grapes produce tendrils.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.