nastic

adjective

nas·​tic ˈna-stik How to pronounce nastic (audio)
: of, relating to, or constituting a movement of a plant part caused by disproportionate growth or increase of turgor in one surface

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German nastisch, generalized from the prefixed forms epinastisch "(of a plant) displaying outward and downward movement" and hyponastisch "displaying inward and upward movement" — more at epinasty

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nastic was in 1906

Dictionary Entries Near nastic

Cite this Entry

“Nastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nastic. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!