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

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

The works reference Art Nouveau’s mimicry of foliate forms — only, in this case, they’re literally composed of leaves.

From New York Times

Its distinguishing feature is the round-arched windows on the third and sixth floors, with a “handsome unifying foliate band course.”

From The New Yorker

Related Words

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