tendril

American  

[ten-dril] / ˈtɛn drɪl /

noun

Botany.

1. 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.

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tendril British  

/ ˈtɛndrɪl /

noun

1. a specialized threadlike part of a leaf or stem that attaches climbing plants to a support by twining or adhering

2. something resembling a tendril, such as a wisp of hair

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tendril Scientific  

/ tĕn′drəl /

1. 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.

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Other Word Forms

• tendrillar adjective
• tendrilly adjective
• tendrilous adjective

Etymology

Origin of tendril

1530–40; earlier tendrel, variant (perhaps by dissimilation) of Middle English tendren, tendron < Middle French tendron shoot, sprout, cartilage

Example Sentences

Data provided to The Times by Melissa, a global address provider, shows that most of those displaced in the two fires stayed close to home but they also spread tendrils across the country.

From Los Angeles Times

A tendril of gold light trickled through Jeremy's mind, making him shiver.

From Literature

Their curious tendrils can crack the foundation of your house, and push up the pavement on your driveway.

From The Wall Street Journal

I just couldn’t imagine how that was going to create fire, but sure enough a tiny tendril of smoke suddenly erupted between the sticks.

From Literature

The smoke whips out in dark tendrils, choking me.

From Literature