imbricate

American  

[im-bri-kit, -keyt, im-bri-keyt] / ˈɪm brɪ kɪt, -ˌkeɪt, ˈɪm brɪˌkeɪt /

adjective

1. overlapping in sequence, as tiles or shingles on a roof.

2. of, relating to, or resembling overlapping tiles, as decoration or drawings.

3. Biology. overlapping like tiles, as scales or leaves.

4. characterized by or as if by overlapping shingles.

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verb (used with or without object)

imbricated, imbricating

1. to overlap, as tiles or shingles.

imbricate British  

adjective

1. architect relating to or having tiles, shingles, or slates that overlap

2. botany (of leaves, scales, etc) overlapping each other

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verb

1. (tr) to decorate with a repeating pattern resembling scales or overlapping tiles

Other Word Forms

• imbricately adverb
• imbrication noun
• imbricative adjective
• nonimbricate adjective
• nonimbricated adjective
• nonimbricately adverb
• nonimbricating adjective
• nonimbricative adjective
• subimbricate adjective
• subimbricated adjective
• subimbricately adverb
• subimbricative adjective

Etymology

Origin of imbricate

1650–60; < Late Latin imbricātus tiled with imbrices, shaped like such a tile or tiling, equivalent to imbric- (stem of imbrex ) imbrex + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Diagram of a flower of Linden, showing the calyx valvate and corolla imbricate in the bud, etc.

From The Elements of Botany For Beginners and For Schools by Gray, Asa

Prostrate, horizontally branched, copiously rooting; leaves imbricate, horizontal, oval, entire or slightly repand; underleaves lanceolate; perianth terminal, broadly obconic, the mouth compressed, repand-crenulate.

From The Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States Including the District East of the Mississippi and North of North Carolina and Tennessee by Gray, Asa

In all of the specimens the middorsal scales are keeled and much smaller than the smooth pavementlike or slightly imbricate ventrals.

From The Amphibians and Reptiles of Michoacán, México by Duellman, William E.

Marsiliaceæ, 700 Sporocarps sessile beneath the stem; small, floating, pinnately branched, with minute imbricate leaves.

From The Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States Including the District East of the Mississippi and North of North Carolina and Tennessee by Gray, Asa

Glabrous, leafy, 2–5° high; leaves oblong, sinuate-pinnatifid and spinulosely dentate, ciliate; heads in an open panicle; involucre more imbricate; flowers yellow.—Minn.,

From The Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States Including the District East of the Mississippi and North of North Carolina and Tennessee by Gray, Asa