gymnocarpous
|gym-no-car-pous|
🇺🇸
/ˌdʒɪmnəˈkɑɹpəs/
🇬🇧
/ˌdʒɪmnəˈkɑːpəs/
naked (exposed) fruit
Etymology
'gymnocarpous' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'gymnos' meaning 'naked' and 'karpos' meaning 'fruit', combined in New Latin/botanical formation.
'gymnocarpous' was formed in New Latin (botanical coinage) from Greek 'gymnos' + 'karpos' and entered modern English botanical usage in the 19th century as 'gymnocarpous' to describe plants with exposed fruit.
Initially it meant 'having naked fruit' in technical botanical contexts, and this core meaning has remained stable into modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having naked or exposed fruit; (botany) fruit not enclosed by a covering or involucre.
The cactus species is gymnocarpous, with its fruits exposed after flowering.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/30 08:29