bract

noun \ ˈbrakt \

|Updated on: 26 May 2018

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

—

bracteal

play \ˈbrak-tē-əl\ adjective

—

bracteate

play \-tē-ət, -ˌāt\ adjective

—

bracted

play \-təd\ adjective

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Recent Examples of bract from the Web

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
This grows into a tall, rangy shrub whose scarlet bracts appear in the winter.

— adrian higgins, Houston Chronicle, "Dreaming of a white (or pink) poinsettia?," 15 Dec. 2017
This grows into a tall, rangy shrub whose scarlet bracts appear in the winter.

— adrian higgins, kansascity, "Dreaming of a white (or pink) poinsettia?," 14 Dec. 2017
Instead it is achieved by breeding to increase the red pigmentation in the layers of bract cells.

— adrian higgins, kansascity, "Dreaming of a white (or pink) poinsettia?," 14 Dec. 2017
Instead, it is achieved by breeding to increase the red pigmentation in the layers of bract cells.

— adrian higgins, Houston Chronicle, "Dreaming of a white (or pink) poinsettia?," 15 Dec. 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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1771

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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bract

Definition of bract

bracteal

bracteate

bracted

Recent Examples of bract from the Web

Origin and Etymology of bract

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