procumbent
- adjective
- /prəˈkʌmbənt/
- Specialized
:
procumbente
- The procumbent stems of the plant helped it cover the forest floor quickly.
Examples
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Some succulents have procumbent growth, allowing them to spread widely in rocky areas.
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Unlike climbing vines, procumbent species do not attach themselves to other plants.
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The procumbent stems of the plant spread across the garden.
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Many procumbent species thrive in sandy soils.
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Some succulents have procumbent growth, allowing them to spread widely in rocky areas.
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The procumbent stems of the plant helped it cover the forest floor quickly.
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Many procumbent species thrive in sandy soils.
Synonyms
A plant or part of a plant that lies partly on the ground but not completely flat
A plant that lies low and spreads across the ground rather than standing upright
How Upright
Surface Forms
Morphology
procumbent = procumb + ent
Although historically built from Latin elements (pro- + cumb- + -ent), the components are not productive or recognizable to an average B1 learner (there is no standalone English base like 'procumb'), so the meaning cannot be derived from the parts.
Etymology
Procumbent comes from Latin parts pro- 'forward' and -cumbere 'to lie down', so it literally means 'to lie forward'. You can see the same 'cumb' in recumbent, which also means 'lying down'. That's why a procumbent plant has stems that lie along the ground rather than growing upright.