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

This coronagraph blocks out the light of our sun in order to reveal the wispy tendrils of the sun's outer atmosphere, or corona. — Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Wispy ends escape the bun in multiple directions, including in front of the knot, while a couple of loose tendrils fall around her face. — Marci Robin, Allure, 8 Sep. 2026

Like the former first lady, Malia showed off darker roots with braids along her hairline and curly face-framing tendrils. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 8 Sep. 2026

For instance, studies have found a single load of laundry can wash 700,000 tendrils of microplastics known as microfibers into sewers. — Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 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