circinate

[ sur-suh-neyt ]

adjective

1. made round; ring-shaped.
2. Botany, Mycology. rolled up on the axis at the apex, as a leaf or fruiting body.

circinate

/ ˈsɜːsɪˌneɪt /

adjective

1. botany (of part of a plant, such as a young fern) coiled so that the tip is at the centre
2. anatomy resembling a ring or a circle

circinate

/ sûr′sə-nāt′ /

1. Rolled up in the form of a coil with the tip in the center, as an unexpanded fern frond.
2. See more at vernation

Derived Forms

• ˈcirciˌnately, adverb

Other Words From

• circi·nate·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of circinate¹

1820–30; < Latin circinātus (past participle of circināre to make round), equivalent to circin ( us ) pair of compasses (akin to circus ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of circinate¹

C19: from Latin circināre to make round, from circinus pair of compasses, from circus, see circus

Example Sentences

These are the buds readying for the circinate vernation that will slowly, like a graceful dancer, unfurl fiddleheads into this year’s new fronds.

From Seattle Times

Seeds numerous, anatropous, with a short and minute embryo at the base of the albumen.—Leaves circinate in the bud, i.e., rolled up from the apex to the base as in Ferns.

From Project Gutenberg

The leaves are generally circinate in the bud, as in ferns.

From Project Gutenberg

Most Ferns are circinate in the bud; that is, are rolled up in the manner shown in Fig.

From Project Gutenberg

When is a patch of eruption said to be circinate?

From Project Gutenberg