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

The lower leaves of this plant are spinous and very glaucous, and the upper ones palmate.

From Project Gutenberg

The leaves are generally palmate and hairy; and the blossoms are large, and of a beautiful yellow.

From Project Gutenberg

The broad palmate antlers with numerous sharp points sometimes measure 8½ feet or more from tip to tip.

From Project Gutenberg

This time Kazan was caught fairly on the broad palmate leaf of the bull's antler, and he was flung back again, half stunned.

From Project Gutenberg

The plant is from six to twelve inches high, with palmate tubers, and mostly radical leaves.

From Project Gutenberg