foliation

(fō′lē ās̸hən)

noun

  1. a growing of or developing into a leaf or leaves; leaf formation
  2. the state of being in leaf
  3. the way leaves are arranged in the bud; vernation
  4. the act or process of beating metal into layers
    1. a splitting into leaflike layers: said of certain minerals
    2. the property of splitting into such layers
    3. such layers
  5. the process of backing glass as with metal foil to make a mirror
  6. the consecutive numbering of leaves, rather than pages, of a book
    1. a decorating with leaflike ornamentation
    2. a leaflike decoration consisting of small arcs or foils

Origin: ML foliatio: see foliate

See foliation in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. The state of being in leaf.
  2. Decoration with sculpted or painted foliage.
  3. Architecture Decoration of an opening with cusps and foils, as in Gothic tracery.
  4. a. The act, process, or product of forming metal into thin leaf or foil.
    b. The act or process of coating glass with metal foil.
  5. a. The process of numbering consecutively the leaves of a book or manuscript.
    b. The leaves so numbered.
  6. Geology The layered structure common to metamorphic rocks.

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