[koh-lee-op-til, kol-ee-] 
| (in grasses) the first leaf above the ground, forming a sheath around the stem tip. |
| co·le·op·tile (kō'lē-ŏp'tĭl, kŏl'ē-) n. A protective sheath enclosing the shoot tip and embryonic leaves of grasses. [From New Latin coleoptilum : Greek koleon, sheath; see kel-1 in Indo-European roots + Greek ptilon, plume; see pet- in Indo-European roots.] |