foliate

[ adjective foh-lee-it, -eyt; verb foh-lee-eyt ]

adjective

1. covered with or having leaves.
2. like a leaf, as in shape.
3. Also Architecture.
   1. ornamented with or composed of foil:

      foliate tracery.

   2. ornamented with representations of foliage:

      a foliate capital.

4. Petrology, Mineralogy. foliated ( def 2 ).

verb (used without object)

, fo·li·at·ed, fo·li·at·ing.

1. to put forth leaves.
2. to split into thin leaflike layers or laminae.

verb (used with object)

, fo·li·at·ed, fo·li·at·ing.

1. to shape like a leaf or leaves.
2. to decorate with foils or foliage.
3. to form into thin sheets.
4. to spread over with a thin metallic backing.
5. Printing. to number the folios or leaves, as distinguished from pages, of (a manuscript or book).

foliate

adjective

1. 1. relating to, possessing, or resembling leaves
   2. in combination

      trifoliate

2. (of certain metamorphic rocks, esp schists) having the constituent minerals arranged in thin leaflike layers

verb

1. tr to ornament with foliage or with leaf forms such as foils
2. to hammer or cut (metal) into thin plates or foil
3. tr to coat or back (glass, etc) with metal foil
4. tr to number the leaves of (a book, manuscript, etc) Compare paginate
5. intr (of plants) to grow leaves

Other Words From

• sub·foli·ate adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of foliate¹

First recorded in 1620–30, foliate is from the Latin word foliātus leafy. See folium, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of foliate¹

C17: from Latin foliātus leaved, leafy

Example Sentences

A gold cuff thought to have been decoration on a royal stool is embossed with lavish foliate patterns suggestive of leaves on a kum tree, a type of banyan for which Kumasi is named.

From Los Angeles Times

"A gadroon rim above a pierced gallery leading to a foliate and scroll decorated body surrounding a plain central cartouche, raised upon four claw and ball feet" is a fairly elaborate way of describing "a tray".

From BBC

Also included are a champagne swizzle stick and a metal-mounted foliate cocktail stick holder.

From BBC

The design featured a foliate design on an "ornate aubergine coloured" background, the catalogue said.

From BBC

They are normally described by art historians as foliate heads, and they are, essentially, a decorative trope.

From Slate

Related Words

• fresh
• grassy
• leafy
• lush
• raw
• tender
• verdant