What does "imbricate" mean?

To overlap in a regular pattern.

What is a synonym for "imbricate"?

Common synonyms include: arch, bestraddle, bestride, bridge, extend, hang over.

Imbricate

adj, verb

adj, verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Verb

1
To overlap in a regular pattern. intransitive, transitive
2
overlap wordnet
3
To undergo or cause to undergo imbrication.
4
place so as to overlap wordnet

Adjective

1
Alternative form of imbricated (“overlapping”). alt-of, alternative, not-comparable
"The pileus is sessile, or sometimes narrowed at the base into a short stem, the caps often numerous and crowded together in an overlapping or imbricate manner."

Adjective

1
used especially of leaves or bracts; overlapping or layered as scales or shingles wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms

arch bestraddle bestride bridge extend hang over

Example

More examples

"The pileus is sessile, or sometimes narrowed at the base into a short stem, the caps often numerous and crowded together in an overlapping or imbricate manner."

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin imbricātus (“tiled”).

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.