Nodulate

Part of speech: verb, adjective

Definitions

1. To cause small rounded lumps or knots to develop on a plant root, tissue or surface ; to develop such small swellings oneself as a plant or organism does
2. Producing little rounded growths on roots or tissue, or forming small knobby swellings that turn a surface lumpy ; becoming studded with tiny rounded bumps
3. To develop small knot-like swellings, as legume roots do when bacteria colonize them

Etymology: "Nodulate" is a plain formation: the noun "nodule" with the verb-forming suffix "-ate" attached, meaning to form small knots or lumps. The noun "nodule" was borrowed into English from Latin "nodulus," a diminutive of "nodus," "knot," so the whole word is built from a Latin base shrunk to a little knot and then given a verb ending. The suffix does most of the work. "-ate" comes through Latin "-atus," which English took over in verbs such as "create" and "elevate," turning a noun into an action of making or becoming that thing. So "nodulate" is essentially "to make into nodules" or "to form nodules," a technical-sounding verb that carries its Latin knot-idea straight through.