tendril

noun

ten·​dril ˈten-drəl How to pronounce tendril (audio)
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
tendrilous adjective

Illustration of tendril

Illustration of tendril
  • tendril 1

Examples of tendril in a Sentence

A few tendrils of hair framed her face.
Recent Examples on the Web Where cars and crowds of people once massed, only tendrils of smoke rise from smoldering piles of trash, sending a bitter taste into the air. Caitlin Stephen Hu, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024 Gnarly and dirty, with bumps and tendrils, celery root appears to challenge your imagination. Joe Yonan, Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2024 The sheer beige chiffon dress is marked by an asymmetrical neckline and shredded tendrils of a hemline, with layers of ruffles over the bust and hips. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2024 Middle parts and sleek side tendrils, which pulled inspiration from early aughts style (think Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie in The Simple Life), have already had their retro moment. Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 8 Feb. 2024 In them, she could be seen looking carefree and happy, sporting a big smile as some tendrils of her hair frame her face. Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 28 Dec. 2023 These sprawling, curved surfaces have scalloped edges that extend into long tendrils. Quanta Magazine, 7 Feb. 2024 For some, the undulating tendrils of cane were a visual metaphor for the destruction of the Everglades, a precursor to the smoke that came each year. Michael Adno, Rolling Stone, 7 Jan. 2024 Two tendrils were pulled out on either side to frame her face and show off those warm blonde highlights. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 5 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tendril.' 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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of tendril was in 1538

Dictionary Entries Near tendril

Cite this Entry

“Tendril.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tendril. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tendril

noun
ten·​dril ˈten-drəl How to pronounce tendril (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on tendril

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