tendril

noun

ten·​dril ˈten-drəl 

1

: a leaf, stipule, or stem modified into a slender spirally coiling sensitive organ serving to attach a climbing plant to its support

2

: something suggestive of a tendril

creeping tendrils of fog

tendriled adjective

or tendrilled

ˈten-drəld 

tendrilous

ˈten-drə-ləs 

adjective

Illustration of tendril

• tendril 1

Examples of tendril in a Sentence

A few tendrils of hair framed her face.

Recent Examples on the Web

Multiple outflows can be seen in the central black tendril of the Circinus West molecular cloud, named the Cir-MMS region. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 28 Apr. 2025

Hey, speaking of renovations, any of y’all spot any wriggling tendrils in the pipes? —EW.com, 28 Apr. 2025

In era, one who wears her hair in tendrils and her power lightly. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025

Her face is often framed by tendrils or topped off with bangs; even when her hair is totally pulled off of her face, the vibes are soft. —Marci Robin, Allure, 17 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably modification of Middle French tendron bud, cartilage, alteration of Old French tenrum, from Vulgar Latin *tenerumen, from Latin tener tender — more at tender entry 1

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

tendril

noun

ten·​dril ˈten-drəl 

1

: a slender leafless winding stem by which some climbing plants fasten themselves to a support

2

: something that curls like a tendril

tendrils of hair