foliage

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The leaves of plants.

   Breezes blowing from beds of iris quickened her breath with their perfume; she saw the tufted lilacs sway in the wind, and the streamers of mauve-tinted wistaria swinging, all a-glisten with golden bees; she saw a crimson cardinal winging through the foliage, and amorous tanagers flashing like scarlet flames athwart the pines.

2. 2
   noun

   (architecture) leaf-like architectural ornament

3. 3
   noun

   the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

4. 4
   noun

   Fall foliage.

From earlier foilage, from Late Middle English ffoylage, from Middle French feuillage. The more recent form is influenced by Latin folium (“leaf”).

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