Tendril

/ˈtɛn.dɹəl/ adj, noun

adj, noun ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A thin, spirally coiling stem that attaches a plant to its support.

    "The Gourd, / And thirſty Cucumer, vvhen they perceive / Th' approaching Olive, vvith Reſentment fly / Her fatty Fibres, and vvith Tendrils creep / Diverſe, deteſting Contact; […]"

  2. 2
    slender stem-like structure by which some twining plants attach themselves to an object for support wordnet
  3. 3
    A hair-like tentacle.
  4. 4
    Anything shaped like a tendril or coil. broadly

    "Her blond hair was tied into a half up, half down style with face-framing tendrils."

Adjective
  1. 1
    Having the shape or properties of a tendril; thin and coiling; entwining. not-comparable

    "Kissing the tendril fingers - at first because Mina, its mother, did not - but later with a rapture begot by its breath on her breast."

Example

More examples

"The Gourd, / And thirſty Cucumer, vvhen they perceive / Th' approaching Olive, vvith Reſentment fly / Her fatty Fibres, and vvith Tendrils creep / Diverſe, deteſting Contact; […]"

Etymology

From Middle French tendrillon (“bud, shoot, cartilage”), perhaps a diminutive of tendron (“cartilage”), from Old French tendre (“soft”) (see tender (adjective)), or else from Latin tendere (“to stretch, extend”) (see tender (verb)).

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