apioid
|a-pi-oid|
/ˈeɪpiɔɪd/
resembling Apium / parsley/celery-like
Etymology
'apioid' originates from New Latin 'Apium' (the genus name, from Latin 'apium' meaning 'celery') combined with the suffix '-oid' from Greek 'eidos' meaning 'form' or 'resembling'.
'apioid' was formed in botanical New Latin (19th century onward) by attaching the Greek-derived suffix '-oid' to 'Apium' or 'Apioideae' to denote resemblance; it entered English usage as a technical botanical adjective and, by extension, a noun for such plants.
Initially, it meant 'resembling Apium (celery/parsley)', and over time it has been used more broadly to describe characteristics of the subfamily Apioideae or plants with umbel-like features.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a plant belonging to, or characteristic of, the subfamily Apioideae (an apioid plant).
The meadow was full of apioids, including several species of parsley.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
resembling or relating to plants of the genus Apium or the subfamily Apioideae; having characteristics typical of umbellifers (parsley/celery family).
The botanist noted the apioid characteristics of the wild carrot.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/17 23:54