2. (Bot.) (a) Having a winged corolla somewhat resembling a butterfly, as in the blossoms of the bean and pea. (b) Belonging to that suborder of leguminous plants (Papilionace[ae]) which includes the bean, pea, vetch, clover, and locust. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
papilionaceous — [pə pil΄ē ō nā′shəs] adj. [< L papilio, butterfly (< redupl. of IE base * pel , to fly, flutter, swim > OE fifealde, butterfly) + ACEOUS] Bot. shaped like a butterfly: said of certain flowers, esp. those of some legumes, as the pea … English World dictionary
papilionaceous — adjective Etymology: Latin papilion , papilio butterfly more at pavilion Date: 1668 having a corolla (as in the bean or pea) with usually five petals that include a large upper petal enclosing two lateral wings and a lower carina of two united… … New Collegiate Dictionary
papilionaceous — /peuh pil ee euh nay sheuhs/, adj. Bot. 1. having an irregular corolla shaped somewhat like a butterfly, as the pea and other leguminous plants. 2. belonging to the family Papilionaceae (Fabaceae), that is often included as part of the… … Universalium
papilionaceous — adjective a) Having the form of a butterfly b) Having corolla with two wings resembling those of a butterfly … Wiktionary
papilionaceous — a. Butterfly shaped … New dictionary of synonyms
papilionaceous — pa·pil·i·o·na·ceous … English syllables
papilionaceous — pa•pil•i•o•na•ceous [[t]pəˌpɪl i əˈneɪ ʃəs[/t]] adj. bot having an irregular corolla shaped like a butterfly, as the pea and other leguminous plants • Etymology: 1660–70; < L pāpiliōn (s. of pāpiliō) butterfly + aceous … From formal English to slang
papilionaceous — /pəˌpɪliəˈneɪʃəs/ (say puh.pileeuh nayshuhs) adjective Botany 1. of or relating to the family Papilionaceae, now formally called Fabaceae, the family of pea plants. 2. having an irregular corolla shaped somewhat like a butterfly, as the pea and… …
papilionaceous — a. shaped like a butterfly … Dictionary of difficult words
papilionaceous — adj. (of a plant) with a corolla like a butterfly. Etymology: mod.L papilionaceus f. L papilio onis butterfly … Useful english dictionary
