imbricate chiefly Zoology & Botany

imbricate chiefly Zoology & Botany

verb 'ɪmbrɪkeɪt [usu. as adjective imbricated] arrange in an overlapping manner like roof tiles.

adjective 'ɪmbrɪkət (of scales, sepals, etc.) having adjacent edges overlapping. Compare with valvate.

Derivatives

imbrication noun

Origin

C17 (in the sense 'shaped like a pantile'): from L. imbricat-, imbricare 'cover with roof tiles'.