How Do You Spell PENICILLATE?

Pronunciation: [pˈɛnɪsˌɪle͡ɪt] (IPA)

The word "penicillate" refers to something that is shaped like a paintbrush or a feather. The pronunciation of this word is /penɪˈsɪleɪt/. The first syllable is pronounced as "pen-i" with a short "e" sound, and the second syllable is pronounced as "sil-late" with a long "a" sound. The ending "-ate" is pronounced with a schwa sound. This word is typically used in biology to describe features such as fungi or leaves that have a feather-like appearance.

PENICILLATE Meaning and Definition

1. Penicillate is an adjective that describes an organism or structure having the appearance or characteristic of a brush, with numerous slender projections resembling bristles or hairs. The term originates from the Latin word "penicillus," which means a brush, specifically a small tuft of animal hair used for writing.

   In biology, the term penicillate is commonly used to describe certain types of fungi, particularly those belonging to the genus Penicillium. These fungi are known for their brush-like or feathery appearance, which is attributed to the compound structures called conidiophores that bear chains of asexual spores known as conidia. These conidiophores resemble the bristles of a brush or a paintbrush, hence the adjective penicillate.

   Penicillate can also refer to specific anatomical structures found in various organisms, including both plants and animals. For instance, some types of flowers have penicillate stigmas, which are elongated, hair-like structures that are part of the female reproductive system. In zoology, certain arthropods, such as crustaceans, possess penicillate appendages, which are characterized by numerous elongated bristle-like projections used for locomotion, feeding, or sensory purposes.

   Overall, the term penicillate is used to describe the brush-like appearance or structure of certain organisms, their appendages, or other biological features that resemble or function similarly to a brush or brush-like instrument.

2. Pencilled; in bot., consisting of a bundle of short close fibres or diverging hairs; applied to a tufted stigma resembling a camel's-hair pencil, as in the nettle.

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

Common Misspellings for PENICILLATE

• peniocillate

Etymology of PENICILLATE

The word "penicillate" is derived from the Latin word "penicillus", which means "a little brush". "Penicillus" itself is a diminutive form of "peniculus", which means "a brush" or "a paintbrush". The Latin word is derived from "peniculus", which means "a tuft of hair" or "a brush". In relation to the word "penicillate", the term specifically refers to something that is furnished or adorned with tufts or brushes, often referring to structures resembling brushes or having hair-like projections.