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umbel Definition

um·bel (umbəl)

noun

a cluster of flowers with stalks of nearly equal length which spring from about the same point, like the ribs of an umbrella

Etymology: L umbella, parasol: see umbrella

adjective

designating a family (Apiaceae, order Apiales) of hollow-stemmed, herbaceous, dicotyledonous plants having umbels, including celery and parsley

umbel Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • flower: The umbels of small white flowers are often six inches across.

Converse of object

  • have: Plants also may have many secondary umbels produced at any node on the stem below the primary umbel.
  • produce: Plants also may have many secondary umbels produced at any node on the stem below the primary umbel.

Adjective modifier

  • large: The large umbels of flowers produced by fennel in late summer are particularly attractive to hoverflies.
  • dense: In summer dense umbels 10cm ( 4in ) across of 50 or more lilac-pink flowers are produced.
  • flat: The flat umbels are indispensable between all the spike shaped flowers in the garden.
  • loose: They provide a lovely shade of bright yellow flowers in star-like loose umbels good for naturalizing and cutting, and are attractive to butterflies.
  • spherical: The tubular based flowers are bell, star or cup shaped which are borne in spherical umbels 1 - 10cm across.
  • white: Although native to the Old World, these white lacy umbels are a familiar sight in the United States and Canada.

Noun used with modifier

  • flower: There are several hundred seeds in each flower umbel.

Browse dictionary entries near umbel

  1. UMA
  2. um
  3. Ulysses
  4. Ulyanovsk
  5. ululate
  6. ulu
  7. ultravirus
  8. ultraviolet
  9. Ultrasuede
  10. ultrastructure
  1. umbellate
  2. umbelliferous
  3. umbellule
  4. umber
  5. umbilical
  6. umbilical cord
  7. umbilicate
  8. umbilication
  9. umbilicus
  10. umbiliform