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

Michelle wore her braids in a low pony with loose tendrils framing the face. —Hannah Malach, InStyle, 4 Mar. 2026

In one brilliant panel a tendril from the Torch’s fiery wake singes off Hiccup’s Hitler moustache. —Literary Hub, 27 Feb. 2026

Using the world's largest radio telescope array, The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, astronomers have dived deeper into the turbulent and complex tendrils of gas and dust at the heart of our galaxy than ever before. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 25 Feb. 2026

Our picks include The Flamingo Estate Green Goddess candle, with notes of fresh mint, pea tendrils, rosemary and basil, as well as the Linnea Petals candle, with notes of peony, green stem and ambergris. —Claire Peltier, ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026

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