frond

• POS: Noun

CIDE DICTIONARY

frond, n. [L. frons, frondis, a leafy branch, foliage.].

 The organ formed by the combination or union into one body of stem and leaf, and often bearing the fructification; as, the frond of a fern or of a lichen or seaweed; also, the peculiar leaf of a palm tree.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

frond, n.
1 Bot. a a large usu. divided foliage leaf in various flowerless plants, esp. ferns and palms. b the leaflike thallus of some algae.
2 Zool. a leaflike expansion.

Derivative

frondage n. frondose adj.

Etymology

L frons frondis leaf

THESAURUS

frond

bine, blade, bough, bract, bracteole, bractlet, branch, branchedness, branchiness, burgeon, cotyledon, deadwood, flag, flagellum, floral leaf, foliole, fork, glume, involucre, involucrum, lamina, leaf, leaflet, lemma, ligule, limb, needle, offshoot, petal, pile, pine needle, ramage, ramification, runner, sarment, scion, seed leaf, sepal, shoot, slip, spathe, spear, spire, spray, sprig, sprit, sprout, stipula, stipule, stolon, sucker, switch, tendril, thallus, twig