aliform
- adjective
- /ˈeɪlɪfɔrm/
- Specialized
:
aliforme
- The seeds are aliform, allowing them to float gently on the wind.
Examples
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The aliform wings of the butterfly were stunning.
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The sculpture had an aliform design that evoked the image of birds in flight.
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Researchers noted the aliform structures on the insect's thorax.
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Some insects have aliform features that help them glide.
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The aliform design of the building made it appear as if it were taking off like a bird.
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The artist created an aliform sculpture that resembled the graceful wings of a swan.
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The aliform shapes on the ancient pottery suggested that it was used in rituals related to flight.
Synonyms
31
3.9
With parts like feathers or thin flaps that help something fly
1
4.5
Something shaped like a wing or placed like one
Shaped like a wing
Having parts like wings, as on insects or seeds
Having the form of a bird's wing
With thin parts like wings that help seeds, leaves, or insects travel in the wind
With winglike parts that help seeds or insects move through the air
Antonyms
How Winged
Surface Forms
Morphology
aliform = ali + form
The suffix '-form' clearly signals 'shape of', but the root 'ali' is a rare combining form (not a standalone English word), so a typical learner may not infer 'wing'.
Etymology
Aliform comes from the Latin root ala meaning 'wing' and the part -form meaning 'shape', so it means 'wing-shaped'. That's why something aliform has or looks like wings.