serrate
/ˈsɛɹˌeɪt/ adjective, verb
Forms serrates serrating serrated
- adjective Having tooth-like projections on one side, as in a saw. “Many click beetles have serrate antennae.”
- adjective (botany) Of leaves: having tooth-like projections pointed away from the petiole.
- verb To make serrate.
- verb To cut or divide in a jagged way.
Synonyms
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin serrātus, past participle of serrō.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Notched on the edge, like a saw.
- adjective Beset with teeth pointing forwards or upwards; as, serrate leaves. Doubly serrate, having small serratures upon the large ones, as the leaves of the elm. -- Serrate-ciliate, having fine hairs, like the eyelashes, on the serratures; --said of a leaf.
Etymology [L. serratus, fr. serra a saw; perhaps akin to secare to cut, E. saw a cutting instrument. Cf. Sierra.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “serrate”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details