terete

English

The peduncles of Kniphofia northiae are typical terete stems, cylindrical, and with little taper

Etymology

From Latin teres (“rounded (cylindrical)”).

Senecio haworthii has leaves that, though not very long, and tapered at both ends, are terete: they have a circular cross section.

Adjective

terete (comparative more terete, superlative most terete)

1. Having a smooth circular cross-section; cylindrical, commonly more or less tapering.

Usage notes

• In common usage, the term terete suggests long and tapering plant stems, but it really describes the circular cross section rather than the length or taper.

Synonyms

• teretiform
• teretial
• teretous

Derived terms

• semiterete
• subterete
• teretish

Anagrams

• Teeter, teeter

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /teˈɾete/ [t̪eˈɾe.t̪e]
• Rhymes: -ete
• Syllabification: te‧re‧te

Adjective

terete m or f (masculine and feminine plural teretes)

1. terete

Further reading

• “terete”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2024 December 10