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Glite Dictionary
terete

terete

9.9
Plant stems or leaves that are round and get thinner toward the tip
  • adjective
  • /təˈriːt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : terete
  • The stems of this plant species are terete, making them easy to distinguish from their angular relatives.

Examples

  • The botanist described the roots as terete and tapering toward the tip.

  • Some underwater plants have terete leaves that reduce water resistance.

  • The terete stems of the plant are easy to identify.

  • Can you describe the terete shape of the leaves?

  • Some underwater plants have terete leaves that reduce water resistance.

  • The botanist described the roots as terete and tapering toward the tip.

  • The stems of this plant species are terete, making them easy to distinguish from their angular relatives.

Synonyms

cylindrical-stemmed
vsterete
7.3

A plant with a stem shaped like a round tube

is cylindrical but narrows gradually from base to tip

How Round

terete
  • Specialized
9.9
rounded
1 2.4
flat
797 1.0

Surface Forms

terete positive

Etymology

Terete comes from the Latin teres, which meant 'rounded' or 'smooth'. So in plants terete describes a stem or leaf that is round and smooth like a thin cylinder or stick, helping you picture its circular cross-section and tapering shape.