multifoliolate
|mul-ti-fo-li-o-late|
🇺🇸
/ˌmʌltiˈfoʊliəleɪt/
🇬🇧
/ˌmʌltiˈfəʊliəleɪt/
having many leaflets
Etymology
'multifoliolate' originates from Latin elements 'multi-' and 'foliolus' (the diminutive of 'folium'), where 'multi-' meant 'many' and 'foliolus' meant 'small leaf' (leaflet).
'foliolus' (Latin) led to Medieval/Neo-Latin forms such as 'foliolatus' or 'foliolate'; English adopted 'foliolate' in botanical usage and combined it with the prefix 'multi-' to form 'multifoliolate'.
Initially used in Latin botanical contexts to denote 'having small leaflets'; over time it became the specialized English adjective meaning 'having many leaflets' in descriptive botany.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having many leaflets (composed of more than the usual number of small leaf-like segments). Used especially in botanical descriptions.
The multifoliolate leaves of the shrub helped the botanist identify the species.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/11 00:19