multi-leaf
|mul-ti-leaf|
/ˈmʌltiˌliːf/
many leaves
Etymology
'multi-leaf' is a compound formed from the prefix 'multi-' and the noun 'leaf'. 'Multi-' traces back to Latin 'multus' meaning 'many' and 'leaf' comes from Old English 'lēaf' (related to Proto-Germanic '*laubaz').
'multi-' (from Latin 'multus') combined with English 'leaf' in Modern English to form compound adjectives and nouns such as 'multi-leaf' or 'multileaf'; the compound formation is a recent, transparent combination rather than a single inherited word.
Initially, the components meant 'many' (multi-) and 'leaf' respectively; when combined, the meaning has remained literal — 'having many leaves' — and has not undergone major semantic shift.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a leaf or plant structure that has multiple leaflets (i.e., a compound leaf with several leaflets).
In the specimen, each multi-leaf consisted of 7 distinct leaflets.
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Adjective 1
having multiple leaves or leaflets; composed of or bearing many leaves.
The multi-leaf shrub produced a dense canopy in summer.
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Last updated: 2025/12/06 06:03