Definition of foliage
1 : a representation of leaves, flowers, and branches for architectural ornamentation The doorframe was decorated with beautifully carved foliage.
2 : the aggregate of leaves of one or more plants trees with colorful autumn foliage
3 : a cluster of leaves, flowers, and branches A wreath of foliage adorned her front door.
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How do you pronounce foliage?
The disyllabic pronunciation \ˈfō-lij\ is very common. Some commentators insist that foliage requires a trisyllabic pronunciation because of its spelling, but words of a similar pattern such as carriage and marriage do not fall under their prescription. The pronunciation \ˈfȯi-lij\ is disapproved because it suggests the transposition of the l and i in the spelling. It is not as common as \ˈfō-lij\ and may be associated with the nonstandard spelling foilage.
Examples of foliage in a Sentence
a tree with pretty foliage
the thick green foliage of the jungle
Recent Examples of foliage from the Web
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Beneath the dark canopy, vines corkscrew around bulbous trunks and palms burst up like giant shuttlecocks from the dense foliage underfoot.
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That can lead to predatory towing, including situations in which signs are posted behind foliage, are on the left side of entrances or just are not present.
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Currently, the record is held by a Chinese firm that put up a 55-meter (180-foot) tree-like tower of lights and synthetic foliage, ornaments and lamps in the city of Guangzhou last year.
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Nearly every room on the first level leads to the courtyard, which is landscaped with tropical foliage like aloe and ginger plants and features an open-air dining area and a 40-foot pool.
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Talk to the landscaper clipping foliage down the street.
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Autumn is the season of harvests, festivals, migrations, winter preparations, and of course, spectacular foliage.
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In the shade of a palm tree, a trio of indigenous rabbits nibbles at the foliage bordering the lawn, leaving behind turds the size of Milk Duds.
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Did You Know?
The English language has its share of common but disputed usages. One such example is the pronunciation of foliage as FOH-lij or, even more irksome to some, FOY-lij. The first of these two pronunciations, though frequently disparaged, is consistent with the pronunciation of the -iage ending in marriage and carriage, as well the less common but widely accepted pronunciation of verbiage as VER-bij. The second of these is often more fiercely denounced, in part because of its association with the nonstandard spelling foilage. Oddly enough, foliage traces back to Middle French foille ("leaf"), which is also the source of the English word foil (as in "aluminum foil"). When adopted by Middle English speakers, foil originally meant "leaf."
Origin and Etymology of foliage
Middle French fuellage, from foille leaf — more at foil
First Known Use: 1598
Other Botany Terms
FOLIAGE Defined for English Language Learners
foliage
playDefinition of foliage for English Language Learners
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: the leaves of a plant or of many plants
FOLIAGE Defined for Kids
Learn More about foliage
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for foliage Spanish Central: Translation of foliage Nglish: Translation of foliage for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of foliage for Arabic speakers
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