Dictionary

spathe en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /speɪð/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Latin spatha, from Ancient Greek σπάθη (spáthē, “blade”). Doublet of epee, spatha, and spade.

Meanings

1. A large bract that envelops or subtends a whole inflorescence, typically a spadix.
   • All the joints and angles are coffered with strips of split rattan sewn neatly on. The lid is covered with the brown leathery spathe of the Areca palm, which is impervious to water, and the whole box is neat, strong, and well finished. 1869, Alfred Russel Wallace, The Malay Archipelago, volume II, London: Macmillan and Co., page 257:

Forms

Deriveds

spathate · spathaceous · spathed · spathal

Relateds

spadix

Translations (10)

pl pochwa kwiatostanowa (large bract that envelopes a spadix) · fi puikelon suojuslehti (large bract that envelopes a spadix) · is hulsturblað (large bract that envelopes a spadix) · sv hölsterblad (large bract that envelopes a spadix) · fo hylkisblað (large bract that envelopes a spadix) · tyz bo (large bract that envelopes a spadix) · tyz cáp (large bract that envelopes a spadix) · fi spatha (large bract that envelopes a spadix) · vi mo (large bract that envelopes a spadix) · sv hölster (large bract that envelopes a spadix)