ˈsīm noun
( -s )
Etymology: New Latin cyma, from Latin, young sprout of cabbage, from Greek kyma wave, young sprout, fetus, anything swollen, from kyein to be pregnant; akin to koilos hollow — more at cave
1. : an inflorescence in which the main and secondary axes always terminate in a single flower whether one flower is produced (as in the wood anemone) or the inflorescence is continued by secondary and tertiary axes (as in the buttercup)
2. : any flower cluster of the cyme type containing several or many flowers (as in pink or phlox) with the first-opening central flower terminating the main axis, subsequent flowers developing from lateral buds, and the inflorescence therefore exhibiting determinate growth — compare corymb , raceme