FERN


Meaning of FERN in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ ˈfərn ]

noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English fearn; akin to Old High German farn fern, Sanskrit parṇa wing, leaf

Date: before 12th century

: any of a division (Filicophyta) or class (Filicopsida) of flowerless spore-producing vascular plants having alternating sporophyte and gametophyte generations ; especially : any of an order (Filicales) of homosporous plants possessing roots, stems, and leaflike fronds — compare seed fern

• fern·like -ˌlīk adjective

• ferny ˈfər-nē adjective

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.