Cordate

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈkɔːdeɪt/

Definitions

1. Having a shape reminiscent of a heart with a wide base and a tapering tip
2. Referring to forms that are characterized by a heart-like silhouette notable for their rounded lower part
3. Having the characteristic outline of a heart, with a broad rounded base and a pointed apex

Etymology: "Cordate" is a plain formation: Latin "cor" (genitive "cordis") meaning "heart" was combined with the English adjective-forming suffix "-ate," which comes from Latin "-atus." The result describes leaves and other shapes that resemble a heart, broad at the base and narrowing toward a point, as in the leaves of many lime trees and violets. The Latin stem "cord-" appears in the Latin word "cor" itself, which also gave English "cordial," "courage," and "record" through separate routes. Botanists and naturalists reached for the Latin form when describing plant parts, so the word belongs to the technical vocabulary of botany rather than everyday speech.

Synonyms: heart-shaped, cordiform, lobed, broad-leaved