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imbricate

adjective
im·​bri·​cate | \ ˈim-bri-kət How to pronounce imbricate (audio) \

Definition of imbricate

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: lying lapped over each other in regular order imbricate scales

imbricate

verb
im·​bri·​cate | \ ˈim-brə-ˌkāt How to pronounce imbricate (audio) \
imbricated; imbricating

Definition of imbricate (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: overlap especially : to overlap like roof tiles
Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about imbricate

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Did You Know?

Adjective

The ancient Romans knew how to keep the interior of their villas dry when it rained. They covered their roofs with overlapping curved tiles so the "imber" (Latin for pelting rain or "rain shower") couldn't seep in. The tiles were, in effect, "rain tiles," so the Romans called them "imbrices" (singular "imbrex"). The verb for installing the tiles was "imbricare," and English speakers used its past participle - "imbricatus" - to create "imbricate," which was first used as adjective meaning "overlapping (like roof tiles)" and later became a verb meaning "to overlap."

Examples of imbricate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

 Virtuosity’s sentence-making is thickened, intricate, imbricated, often dazzling. — Cynthia Ozick, New York Times, "One Last Book From a Virtuoso of the Short Story," 14 May 2018 But in re-writing those real events, embedding a creative vision of the past in a contemporary fiction, novelists reveal how history is continually imbricated into the texture of our world. — Josephine Livingstone, New Republic, "There’s a New Literary Celebrity in Town, and His Name Is Baruch Spinoza," 31 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'imbricate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of imbricate

Adjective

circa 1610, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1784, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for imbricate

Adjective

Late Latin imbricatus, past participle of imbricare to cover with pantiles, from Latin imbric-, imbrex pantile, from imbr-, imber rain; akin to Greek ombros rain

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Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with imbricate

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