con·i·fer (kŏn'ə-fər, kō'nə-) n. Any of various mostly needle-leaved or scale-leaved, chiefly evergreen, cone-bearing gymnospermous trees or shrubs such as pines, spruces, and firs.
[From New Latin Cōniferae, family name, from Latin, feminine pl. of cōnifer, cone-bearing : cōnus, cone (from Greek kōnos; see kō- in Indo-European roots) + -fer, -fer.] co·nif'er·ous (kō-nĭf'ər-əs, kə-) adj.