imbricate
im·bri·cate (im′bri kit; also, and for v. always, -kāt′)
adjective
- overlapping evenly, as tiles or fish scales do
- ornamented with overlapping scales or a pattern like this
Etymology: LL imbricatus, pp. of L imbricare, to cover with gutter tiles < imbrax, gutter tile < imber, rain < IE base *ṃbh-, var. of *nebh-, moist, water > Gr nephos, cloud, Ger nebel, fog
transitive verb imbricated -·cat′ed, imbricating -·cat′·ing
intransitive verb
Related Forms:
- imbricately im′·bri·cately adverb
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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