How Do You Spell CIRRIFEROUS?

Pronunciation: [sɜːɹˈɪfəɹəs] (IPA)

Cirriferous is spelled with the letter "C", which is pronounced as /s/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The word also contains the letters "i", pronounced /ɪ/, "r", pronounced /r/, and "ferous", pronounced /ˈfɛrəs/. Together, these letters create a word that refers to a plant or animal that has tendrils or cirri. Cirriferous can be broken down into "cirri" and "ferous" with "cirri" meaning tendril or curl, and "ferous" meaning bearing or producing.

CIRRIFEROUS Meaning and Definition

1. Cirriferous is an adjective that is used to describe something that bears or produces tufts or tassels of hair or threads. The term is derived from the Latin word "cirrus," which means a curl, tendril, or lock of hair, and "ferous," meaning to bear or produce.

   In a botanical context, cirriferous refers to plants or plant structures that have long, slender, and thread-like appendages resembling hair or tendrils. These structures are often found in climbing plants, where they assist in anchoring the plant to the supporting surface by twining or clinging. Examples of cirriferous plants include vines like ivy, grapevines, or passionflowers, all of which exhibit cirri that aid in their climbing behavior.

   Cirriferous can also be used in the zoological realm, specifically when referring to certain animals that possess hair-like or tufted structures. This characteristic is particularly observed in some marine organisms, such as certain species of polychaete worms or appendages of certain crustaceans. The tufts or threads may serve various functions, including sensory perception, locomotion, or capturing food particles from the water.

   Overall, cirriferous describes the presence of hair-like, tassel-like, or thread-like structures in plants or animals, often serving diverse purposes depending on the organism.

2. Producing tendrils.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for CIRRIFEROUS

• xirriferous
• virriferous
• firriferous
• dirriferous
• curriferous
• cjrriferous
• ckrriferous
• corriferous
• c9rriferous
• c8rriferous
• cieriferous
• cidriferous
• cifriferous
• citriferous
• ci5riferous
• ci4riferous
• cireiferous
• cirdiferous
• cirfiferous

Etymology of CIRRIFEROUS

The word "cirriferous" is derived from two Latin roots: "cirrus" and "ferre".

"Cirrus" means a wisp, curl, or tendril, referring to a thin, elongated, and often curved shape. It is commonly used in meteorology to describe certain types of clouds that have a fibrous, wispy appearance.

"Ferre" is the root word for "to bear" or "to carry" in Latin. It is commonly used in English words such as "transfer", "infer", or "refer", which all indicate movement or carrying something from one place or state to another.

Therefore, the combination of "cirrus" and "ferre" in "cirriferous" conveys the meaning of "bearing or carrying tendrils or wisps".