catkin
noun
cat·kin
| \ ˈkat-kən
\
\
Definition of catkin
: a spicate inflorescence (as of the willow, birch, or oak) bearing scaly bracts and unisexual usually apetalous flowers
— called also ament
Examples of catkin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Small balls of gray catkin fluff blew on the wind, seedpods from poplars, which bloom all over Warsaw in the spring. — Ruth Franklin, The New Yorker, "Olga Tokarczuk’s Novels Against Nationalism," 29 July 2019 The oak catkins have elongated, however, on and off cooler temperatures and rain showers have helped to keep the tree count down. — Ian Livingston, Washington Post, "PM Update: After a pleasant night, the heat gets turned up Wednesday," 1 May 2018 The crispy things are the catkins of the live oak trees (Quercus virginiana). — Contributing Writer, NOLA.com, "How to pick the best orchids for interior design," 10 Apr. 2018 The catkins contain the male flowers that shed pollen. — Contributing Writer, NOLA.com, "How to pick the best orchids for interior design," 10 Apr. 2018 The catkins contain the male flowers that shed pollen. — Contributing Writer, NOLA.com, "How to pick the best orchids for interior design," 10 Apr. 2018 The catkins contain the male flowers that shed pollen. — Contributing Writer, NOLA.com, "How to pick the best orchids for interior design," 10 Apr. 2018 After the pollen is shed, the catkins drop from the tree. — Contributing Writer, NOLA.com, "How to pick the best orchids for interior design," 10 Apr. 2018 If the amount of male catkins and pollen is any indication of what to expect, this could be a good acorn year. — Tom Maccubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "It's all about timing when growing cucumbers," 31 Mar. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'catkin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for catkin
catkin
noun
English Language Learners Definition of catkin
: a bunch of flowers that grow in close rows on the branches of trees (such as willows or birches)
See the full definition for catkin in the English Language Learners Dictionary
catkin
noun
cat·kin
| \ ˈkat-kən
\
\
Kids Definition of catkin
: a flower cluster (as of the willow and birch) in which the flowers grow in close circular rows along a slender stalk