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Glite Dictionary
cordate leaf

cordate leaf

7.0
A leaf shaped like a heart with a notch at its base
  • noun
  • /ˈkɔrdɪt liːf/
  • Specialized
translation icon : hoja cordada
  • The cordate leaf of the redbud tree features a notch at the base, making it easily recognizable.

Examples

  • The linden tree's cordate leaf is a key feature for identification.

  • Several houseplants have a distinctive cordate leaf shape that adds to their charm.

  • Botanists often describe the violet's foliage as having a cordate leaf arrangement.

  • The cordate leaf of the plant is very distinctive.

  • Many cordate leaves can be found in tropical regions.

  • The heart-shaped cordate leaf of the philodendron is often admired for its unique beauty.

  • In spring, the garden bursts with color as plants with cordate leaves come into bloom.

Surface Forms

cordate leaf singular
cordate leaves plural

Morphology

cordate + leaf

The adjective 'cordate' literally means 'heart-shaped' and directly modifies 'leaf', so the combined meaning 'a heart-shaped leaf' is compositionally derivable from the parts. This ADJ+N pattern is a standard, transparent modifier construction and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituent words, despite 'cordate' being a specialized botanical term.

Etymology

Cordate leaf names a leaf that looks like a heart, with a deep notch at the base and two rounded parts at the top. The word cordate comes from a word for 'heart', so the shape of the leaf helps you remember it means 'heart-shaped'.