Conifer

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkɒnɪfə(ɹ)/

Definitions

1. A tree or shrub that bears cones and typically has needle-like or scale-like evergreen leaves, such as pine, spruce, or fir
2. A type of tree or shrub that produces cones and generally possesses needle-like or scale-like leaves, commonly found in species such as pine and fir
3. A family of trees and shrubs characterized by their cone-bearing habits and typically evergreen foliage, including varieties like spruce and cedar

Etymology: The word is a straightforward Latin compound, and its parts are easy to read. "Cōnus" is the Latin for "cone," the familiar scaled fruit of pines and firs, and "-fer" comes from "ferre," "to bear" or "to carry," the same root behind English words such as "fertile" and "ferry." Put together, "cōnifer" literally means "bearing cones," a label that describes the plant by its most visible feature. English took the term directly from Latin, so it kept the original sense intact: a conifer is any tree or shrub that produces cones rather than flowers, which is why pines, spruces, yews and junipers all belong to the group. The "-fer" element appears in many other English scientific and everyday words, such as "aquifer" (water-bearing rock) and "florescence," so once you recognise it, the structure of "conifer" becomes transparent.

Synonyms: pine, fir

Antonyms: deciduous