bract

\ ˈbrakt

How to pronounce bract (audio)

\

Definition of bract

1 : a leaf from the axil of which a flower or floral axis arises

2 : a leaf borne on a floral axis especially : one subtending a flower or flower cluster

Other Words from bract Example Sentences Learn More about bract

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of bract in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web If the plants do not have at least a hint of color in the bracts, look for the light source. — Tom Maccubbin, orlandosentinel.com, "Fertilize camellias when buds are present," 15 Nov. 2019 More likely, however, your plant is experiencing short days in partial shade that encourages out-of-season red bracts. — Tom Maccubbin, orlandosentinel.com, "Shade encourages red bracts in poinsettia plant," 27 July 2019 This time of year, Troy collects linden blossoms and bracts to make a calming floral tea-like tissane. — Colleen Smith, The Denver Post, "Tips on harvesting herbs for good food and your good health," 27 June 2019 The tipping also encourages more side stems and at the end of each side stem, a colored bract will emerge. — Calvin Finch, San Antonio Express-News, "Container plants perfect for the San Antonio summer heat," 15 June 2018 These blooms are, in fact, the flowers’ bracts, but most gardeners naturally think of them as this handsome tree’s flowers. — Earl Nickel, San Francisco Chronicle, "Evergreen dogwood: Some bark and lots of blooms," 18 May 2018 Salmon pink flowers are tiny and ephemeral, but the red and yellow bracts that surround them remain ornamental for months. — Karen Dardick, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Bromeliads create garden drama," 17 May 2018 Eventually, the bracts fall and the flowers develop into bright red berries. — Dave Taft, New York Times, "Blaze of Glory," 16 May 2018 Some other species of dogwood don’t have bracts at all, just clusters of fluffy, delicate small flowers. — Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, "Classic dogwood likely won't survive in Chicago yards, but others will," 4 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bract.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about bract

Dictionary Entries near bract

bracted bindweed

bracted plantain

Statistics for bract

Cite this Entry

“Bract.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bract. Accessed 11 Jul. 2020.

WORD OF THE DAY

confabulate

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

Words for Summer: A Quiz

Which of the following words means “of or relating to summer”?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.