fern

¹

[ furn ]

noun

1. any seedless, nonflowering vascular plant of the class Filicinae, of tropical to temperate regions, characterized by true roots produced from a rhizome, triangular fronds that uncoil upward and have a branching vein system, and reproduction by spores contained in sporangia that appear as brown dots on the underside of the fronds.

Fern

²

[ furn ]

noun

1. a female given name.

fern

/ fɜːn /

noun

1. any tracheophyte plant of the phylum Filicinophyta , having roots, stems, and fronds and reproducing by spores formed in structures (sori) on the fronds See also tree fern
2. any of certain similar but unrelated plants, such as the sweet fern

fern

/ fûrn /

1. Any of numerous seedless vascular plants belonging to the phylum Pterophyta that reproduce by means of spores and usually have feathery fronds divided into many leaflets. Most species of ferns are homosporous (producing only one kind of spore). The haploid spore grows into a small, usually flat gametophyte known as a prothallus , which is undifferentiated into roots, stems, and leaves. The green prothallus anchors itself with hairlike extensions known as rhizoids and bears both archegonia (organs producing female gametes) and antheridia (organs producing male gametes). The male gametes require the presence of water to swim to the female gametes and fertilize the eggs. Normally only one embryo is produced, and it then grows out of the gametophyte plant as a diploid sporophyte plant that has roots, stems, and leaves and conducts photosynthesis, while the smaller gametophyte withers away. The leaves of these sporophytes eventually produce sporangia (in some species occurring in clusters known as sori ). Under dry conditions, the sori burst releasing hundreds of thousands or millions of spores. Ferns were abundant in the Carboniferous period and exist today in about 11,000 species, about three-quarters of which live in tropical climates.

Derived Forms

• ˈfernˌlike, adjective
• ˈferny, adjective

Other Words From

• fernless adjective
• fernlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fern¹

before 900; Middle English ferne, Old English fearn; cognate with German Farn fern, Sanskrit parná feather

Word History and Origins

Origin of fern¹

Old English fearn ; related to Old High German farn , Sanskrit parná leaf

Example Sentences

Fern Howard, from Crohn’s & Colitis UK said she was pleased to hear that access to toilets would be improved but echoed Ms Sailsbury's concern that waiting 20 minutes was "often not possible".

From BBC

Stephen Fern, 200 Degrees managing director, added: "We are thrilled that the strong market position and growth potential of 200 Degrees has been recognised within the sector, and we are excited to see where our brand can go now that we have become part of The Nero Group family."

From BBC

The plants have even made their way onto her arms - tattoos of a cheese-plant leaf, a fern, wisteria and a daffodil - covering self-harm scars, traces of her painful journey.

From BBC

While you can walk straight up to the site via a flight of stairs from the small parking lot adjacent to Merry Go Round Lot 2, you can also reach it from above by hiking the easy 1.5 mile loop that diverges from the Fern Canyon Trailhead near Merry Go Round Lot 1.

From Los Angeles Times

A place for audiences to sit back and laugh in between music isn’t exactly a new thing for Reading & Leeds – its comedy stage had big names like Joel Dommett, Russell Kane and Fern Brady on the bill last year.

From BBC

Related Words

• scrub
• thicket