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View synonyms for epiphyte

epiphyte

[ ep-uh-fahyt ]

noun

, Botany.
  1. a plant that grows above the ground, supported nonparasitically by another plant or object, and deriving its nutrients and water from rain, the air, dust, etc.; air plant; aerophyte.


epiphyte

/ ˈɛpɪˌfaɪt; ˌɛpɪˈfɪtɪk /

noun

  1. a plant that grows on another plant but is not parasitic on it


epiphyte

/ ĕpə-fīt′ /

  1. A plant that grows on another plant and depends on it for support but not food. Epiphytes get moisture and nutrients from the air or from small pools of water that collect on the host plant. Spanish moss and many orchids are epiphytes.
  2. Also called aerophyte air plant


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Derived Forms

  • epiphytic, adjective
  • ˌepiˈphytically, adverb

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Other Words From

  • ep·i·phyt·ic [ep-, uh, -, fit, -ik], epi·phyti·cal adjective
  • epi·phyti·cal·ly adverb

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Word History and Origins

Origin of epiphyte1

First recorded in 1840–50; epi- + -phyte

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Example Sentences

But the drawing-room epiphyte is nothing if she is not young—which is synonymous with power to interest and amuse.

Aërides, Saccolabiums, and Vandas seem to be exceptions, as they represent the highest development of the epiphyte.

Here and there a splash of white or crimson marked the blooming of some trailing epiphyte.

This epiphyte, too, is very different in structure from wheat-rust.

One is purely an epiphyte, growing attached to a tree like many of the orchids.

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epiphysisepiphytotic