n.
Pronunciation: ' päm, ' pälm, ' po ̇ m, ' po ̇ lm
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English, from Latin palma palm of the hand, palm tree; from the resemblance of the tree's leaves to the outstretched hand; akin to Greek palam ē palm of the hand, Old English folm, Old Irish lám hand
Date: before 12th century
1 : any of a family (Palmae syn. Arecaceae) of mostly tropical or subtropical monocotyledonous trees, shrubs, or vines with usually a simple stem and a terminal crown of large pinnate or fan-shaped leaves
2 : a leaf of the palm as a symbol of victory or rejoicing also : a branch (as of laurel) similarly used
3 : a symbol of triumph or superiority also : VICTORY , TRIUMPH
4 : an addition to a military decoration in the form of a palm frond especially to indicate a second award of the basic decoration
– palm · like \ - ˌ l ī k \ adjective
1 palm 1