tendril

noun

ten·​dril ˈten-drəl 

1

: a leaf, stipule, or stem modified into a slender spirally coiling sensitive organ serving to attach a climbing plant to its support

2

: something suggestive of a tendril

creeping tendrils of fog

tendriled adjective

or tendrilled

ˈten-drəld 

tendrilous

ˈten-drə-ləs 

adjective

Illustration of tendril

• tendril 1

Examples of tendril in a Sentence

A few tendrils of hair framed her face.

Recent Examples on the Web

Goss felt the first tendrils of panic creeping up his throat. —Chris Kenning, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024

The scientists will also investigate the longevity of the fungal tendrils. —Saima S. Iqbal, Scientific American, 25 Oct. 2024

The biomass of tiny fish and crustaceans that live within the tendrils generate a food web of epic proportion. —Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 19 Sep. 2024

In era, one who wears her hair in tendrils and her power lightly. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably modification of Middle French tendron bud, cartilage, alteration of Old French tenrum, from Vulgar Latin *tenerumen, from Latin tener tender — more at tender entry 1

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

tendril

noun

ten·​dril ˈten-drəl 

1

: a slender leafless winding stem by which some climbing plants fasten themselves to a support

2

: something that curls like a tendril

tendrils of hair