elater

noun

el·​a·​ter ˈe-lə-tər How to pronounce elater (audio)
: a plant structure functioning in the dispersal of spores: such as
a
: one of the elongated filaments among the spores in the capsule of a liverwort
b
: one of the filamentous appendages of the spores in the horsetails

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek elatēr driver, from elaunein to drive

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of elater was in 1830

Dictionary Entries Near elater

Cite this Entry

“Elater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elater. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

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