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Glite Dictionary
obovate

obovate

9.9
A leaf shaped like an egg with the narrow end at the stem
  • adjective
  • /ˈoʊbəˌveɪt/
  • Specialized
: obovado
  • Many tropical plants have obovate or elliptical foliage.

Examples

  • The obovate leaves of the tree make it easy to distinguish from similar species.

  • The botanist noted the obovate shape of the specimen's leaves.

  • The leaves are obovate.

  • Look at that obovate leaf!

  • The obovate leaves of the holly plant have a distinctive shape that helps in identifying the species.

  • In her garden, she admired the obovate foliage of the flowering plants that bloomed in spring.

  • The scientist described the obovate leaves in her research, emphasizing their importance in classification.

Synonyms

spatula-shaped
vsobovate
  • Specialized
1 6.4

A shape with a wide rounded top and a narrow base, like some leaves

is a more specific egg like outline with the narrow end at the base

Compounds

obovate leaf
  • Specialized
8.6

A leaf shaped like an egg with the narrow end near the stem

Surface Forms

obovate positive

Morphology

obovate = ovate (semi-transparent) = ob + ovate

The adjective is formed by the prefix 'ob-' meaning inverted applied to 'ovate', but 'ob-' is a specialized botanical inversion marker that may be unfamiliar to general learners.

Etymology

Obovate comes from the parts ob- meaning 'reverse' and ovate meaning 'egg-shaped'. So an obovate leaf is like an egg turned the other way, with the narrow end at the base.