Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
family Cycadaceae

family Cycadaceae

9.9
A group of ancient seed plants that look like palm trees
  • noun
  • /ˈfæmɪli saɪˈkædeɪsi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : familia Cycadaceae
  • The family Cycadaceae includes some of the world's most primitive seed plants.

Examples

  • The family Cycadaceae includes some of the oldest plants on Earth.

  • Most species in the family Cycadaceae are found in tropical and subtropical regions.

  • Botanists often study the reproductive cycles within the family Cycadaceae.

  • Many species in the family Cycadaceae are endangered.

  • Most species in the family Cycadaceae are found in tropical and subtropical regions.

  • The family Cycadaceae includes some of the world's most primitive seed plants.

  • Many species in the family Cycadaceae are endangered.

Synonyms

cycad family
vsfamily Cycadaceae
  • Specialized
9.5

An ancient family of plants that look like palms and grow from cones

is the scientific term for the identical plant group
Cycadaceae
vsfamily Cycadaceae
  • Specialized
9.9

A family of ancient tropical plants with large leaves that look like palms but are not palms

is the scientific term without stressing tropical leaf features

Surface Forms

family Cycadaceae singular
families Cycadaceae plural

Morphology

family + Cycadaceae

The phrase is compositionally built from 'family' (a scientific grouping) and 'Cycadaceae' (a group of palmlike plants), so its meaning 'the family of cycads' is directly derivable from the constituents. This taxonomic pattern (family + taxon name) is a regular, cross-linguistic scientific construction and should be clear to a B1 learner who knows both words.

Etymology

Family Cycadaceae is a plant name made of family (a group of related plants) and Cycadaceae, a word that may come from an old Greek word for a palm-like plant. So the name paints the picture of a 'family of ancient, palm-like plants', and that is why it means this group of plants today.