plural pappi
ˈpa-ˌpī 
-ˌpē
: an appendage or tuft of appendages that crowns the ovary or fruit in various seed plants and functions in dispersal of the fruit
Examples of pappus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The feathery pappus on the groundsel seed head are ready for wind dispersal as seen at 2x in the second-place image.
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Discover Magazine, 4 Oct. 2017
So not only does the pappus of a dandelion seed create this SVR, but the authors determined it’s also perfectly engineered to stabilize the pocket of air.
—Bill Andrews, Discover Magazine, 18 Oct. 2018
Discover Magazine, 4 Oct. 2017
So not only does the pappus of a dandelion seed create this SVR, but the authors determined it’s also perfectly engineered to stabilize the pocket of air.
—Bill Andrews, Discover Magazine, 18 Oct. 2018
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pappus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Latin, from Greek pappos
First Known Use
circa 1704, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near pappus
Cite this Entry
“Pappus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pappus. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on pappus
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pappus
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