closed-fruited
|closed-fruit-ed|
🇺🇸
/ˌkloʊzdˈfruːtɪd/
🇬🇧
/ˌkləʊzdˈfruːtɪd/
having fruits that do not open
Etymology
'closed-fruited' originates from Modern English, specifically a compound of 'closed' and 'fruited'.
'closed' comes via Old French 'clos' from Latin 'clausus' (past participle of 'claudere', 'to shut'), and 'fruit' comes from Old French 'fruit' from Latin 'fructus' (from 'frui', 'to enjoy' or 'to have the benefit of'). The compound formed in Modern English by combining these elements to describe a characteristic of fruit.
Individually, 'closed' originally meant 'shut' and 'fruit' originally meant 'product' or 'enjoyment'; combined as 'closed-fruited' the phrase came to mean specifically 'having fruits that do not open at maturity' in botanical usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
(botany) Having fruits that remain closed at maturity and do not open to release their seeds (indehiscent).
The plant is closed-fruited, so seeds are dispersed only when the fruit decays or is eaten.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/23 14:51