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

Lamb carpaccio with morels, green garlic and pea tendrils in spring. —Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 22 Oct. 2025

Washington’s extraterritorial detention practices have sprouted Guantánamo-like tendrils elsewhere. —Miriam Pensack, The Dial, 30 Sep. 2025

My risotto had burrata and fresh asparagus and followed a summery appetizer tart with pea tendrils, creme fraiche, and a minty pistou. —Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2025

The low-hanging clouds reached their misty tendrils toward us, dousing us in a cool bath of rain. —Stefanie Waldek, AFAR Media, 12 Sep. 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