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

Plants grow as long vines, with curly tendrils and large, lobed leaves. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 23 May 2026

As the two galaxies converged, each would pull the other apart like taffy, creating long tendrils of stars, gas and dust called tidal tails. —Phil Plait, Scientific American, 22 May 2026

As for beauty, Ella styled her brunette hair in a stylish updo with face-framing tendrils hanging out. —Christina Perrier, InStyle, 22 May 2026

For the opening of Oyatte in early May, Lee was expecting his eight-course tasting menu to feature seasonal produce like turnips, radishes and pea tendrils, featured in a radish salad with rhubarb and poached green radishes. —Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 7 May 2026

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