Broadleaved

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. A category of plants distinguished by having leaves that are flattened and wide rather than long and narrow Referring to vegetation types that possess large, broad leaf structures instead of slender, needle-like foliage Characterizing flora with expansive leaves that contrast with the thin, elongated leaves commonly found in gymnosperms
2. A classification of plant life that features leaves which are broad and flat instead of long and narrow in design
3. Describes plants that feature leaves wide and flat rather than narrow or needle-shaped

Etymology: "Broadleaved" is a plain compound: "broad" (from Old English "brād," meaning wide or extended) joined to "leaved," the adjective formed from "leaf." Put together, it describes plants whose foliage is wide and flat, in contrast to needle-shaped leaves such as those of pines and firs. The hyphenated "broad-leaved" is an alternative spelling of the same term, and the two forms are interchangeable. The combination is a descriptive tool of botany and forestry rather than a word with a dramatic past. Its parts have ancient roots, but the compound itself is simply a transparent description of a leaf shape, which is why it reads so clearly.

Synonyms: broadleaf