geophyte

noun

geo·​phyte ˈjē-ə-ˌfīt How to pronounce geophyte (audio)
: a perennial plant that bears its perennating buds below the surface of the soil

Examples of geophyte in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And as with geophytes, glacial cooling does not depress their numbers. Curtis W. Marean, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2016

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1900, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of geophyte was circa 1900

Dictionary Entries Near geophyte

Cite this Entry

“Geophyte.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/geophyte. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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