palmate

1 of 2

adjective

pal·​mate ˈpal-ˌmāt 

ˈpä-, 

ˈpäl-, 

ˈpȯ-, 

ˈpȯl- 

variants or less commonly palmated

ˈpal-ˌmā-təd 

ˈpä-, 

ˈpäl-, 

ˈpȯ-, 

ˈpȯl-

: resembling a hand with the fingers spread: such as

a

: having lobes radiating from a common point

a palmate leaf

see leaf illustration

b

: having the distal portion broad, flat, and lobed

a palmate antler

palmately adverb

palmation

pal-ˈmā-shən 

pä-, 

ˈpäl-, 

ˈpȯ-, 

ˈpȯl-

noun

palmation

2 of 2

noun

palma·​tion palˈmāshən 

päˈm-

plural -s

1

obsolete : an act of touching with the palm

2

[palmate + -ion]

a

: the quality or state of being palmate

b

: palmate lobation

also : a palmate part

Examples of palmate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The decorative leaves of blue hibiscus are palmate, deeply lobed and appear to be the hybrid offspring of an oak leaf and a snowflake. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 18 Oct. 2025

Variegated: ‘Butterfly’ offers cream and green palmate leaves and stays a modest size (6 to 10 feet). —Earl Nickel, SFChronicle.com, 5 June 2020

Word History

Etymology

Noun

palm entry 3 + -ation

First Known Use

Adjective

1661, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

palmate

adjective

pal·​mate ˈpal-ˌmāt  ˈpälm-ˌāt 

ˈpäm-

: resembling a hand with the fingers spread

palmate leaves