bract

play

noun \ ˈbrakt \

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

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bracteal

play \ˈbrak-tē-əl\ adjective

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bracteate

play \-tē-ət, -ˌāt\ adjective

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bracted

play \-təd\ adjective

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Recent Examples of bract from the Web

The flowers are produced on a long, pendulous stalk with dusky purple bracts.

— NOLA.com, "Banana plants: Answers to all your questions about care, pruning and harvesting fruit," 19 Aug. 2017
If allowed to mature and flower, nutsedge will send up a triangular stem with three long, leaf-like bracts at the base of each flower head (flowers in yellow nutsedge are light brown).

— debbie arrington, sacbee, "How to battle notorious weed when it invades your yard," 11 Aug. 2017
Purple sage there has bloomed already, but the sage still holds bracts of drying flowers.

— anna webb, idahostatesman, "It’s not too late. Higher elevations in Idaho still offer a wildflower show," 10 July 2017
Its pretty bright red color, like the deep red of holiday Poinsettia, comes not from the flower but from specialized leaves called bracts.

— kenneth setzer, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Fairchild's Tropical Garden Column: Going native in the garden? Try these plants," 3 July 2017
The bracts in some cases are thought to lead pollinators to the rather unassuming flower, like airport runway lights.

— kenneth setzer, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Fairchild's Tropical Garden Column: Going native in the garden? Try these plants," 3 July 2017
Queen Anne's lace flowers also have three-pronged bracts at their base, while poison hemlock doesn't.

— lyndsey matthews, Country Living, "This Popular Nevada Park Is Experiencing a Major Poison Hemlock Outbreak," 25 May 2017
Looking back up toward the meadow, through the burgundy foliage of Japanese maples, the laciness of golden locust and past the snowy bracts of dogwood (Cornus kousa x C. nuttallii ‘Venus’ and Cornus ‘

— valerie easton, The Seattle Times, "A Maury Island hillside garden was a lot of work to create, and it’s a lot of work to tour," 17 May 2017
Trilliums, rarely damaged by destructive creatures other than deer, form two main groups: the sessile — flowers on top of the leaf — bract, and the pedicellate — flower is attached to a short stem.

— margaret lauterbach, idahostatesman, "Among shade tolerant plants, the trillium shines," 2 May 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of bract

New Latin bractea, from Latin, thin metal plate

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First Known Use: 1771

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bract

Definition of bract

bracteal

bracteate

bracted

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Origin and Etymology of bract

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bracted

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