palmate

[ pal-meyt, -mit, pahl-, pah-meyt ]

adjective

1. shaped like an open palm or like a hand with the fingers extended, as a leaf or an antler.
2. Botany. having four or more lobes or leaflets radiating from a single point.
3. Zoology. web-footed.
4. Furniture.
   1. decorated with palmettes.
   2. (in furniture of the 17th century) having bands of semicircles enclosing a radiating leaf form.

palmate

/ ˈpælmeɪt; -mɪt /

adjective

1. shaped like an open hand

   palmate antlers

2. botany having more than three lobes or segments that spread out from a common point

   palmate leaves

3. (of the feet of most water birds) having three toes connected by a web

palmate

/ păl′māt′,päl′- /

1. Having a shape similar to that of a hand with the fingers extended. Some kinds of coral and the antlers of moose and certain deer are palmate.
2. Having three or more veins, leaflets, or lobes radiating from one point. Maples have palmately lobed leaves.
3. Having webbed toes. The feet of many swimming and diving birds are palmate.

Other Words From

• palmate·ly adverb
• sub·palmate adjective
• sub·palmat·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of palmate¹

First recorded in 1750–60, palmate is from the Latin word palmātus shaped like a palm. See palm ¹, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of palmate¹

C18: from Latin palmatus , from palma palm; see palm ²

Example Sentences

Large palmate leaves and dramatic flowers on stems to 6 feet create a stunning focal point in the landscape.

From Seattle Times

Pistils 3–10, sessile, forming coriaceous many-seeded pods.—Perennial herbs, with ample palmate or pedate leaves, and large, solitary, nodding, early vernal flowers.

From Project Gutenberg

The most striking character of the swimming bird is derived from the structure of the feet, which are always palmate—that is, furnished with webs between the toes.

From Project Gutenberg

All these terms may be modified by the words pinnate or palmate; thus—pinnately parted, pinnately divided, palmately parted, palmately divided, etc.; also by the adjectives once, twice, thrice, etc.

From Project Gutenberg

For the first, the pieces, which are called “races” or “hands,” from their irregular palmate form, are washed and simply dried in the sun.

From Project Gutenberg