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cycad Definition

cy·cad (sī′kad′)

noun

any of a class (Cycadatae) of gymnospermous tropical shrubs and trees resembling thick-stemmed palms, with crowns of leathery, fernlike leaves and large cones containing fleshy seeds

Etymology: ModL Cycas (gen. Cycadis) < Gr kykas, erroneous sp. for koïkas, acc. pl. of koïx, doum palm

cycad Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • rare: The glasshouses contain collections of palms, rare cycads, tropical ferns, cacti and alpines.

Modifies a noun

  • plant: Explain two different ways to plant different specified palm or cycads plants.