Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Word of the Day: Conifer

Happy Tuesday! The word of the day is:

- Conifer -

pronounced [koh-nuh-fer]



noun
1. any of numerous, chiefly evergreen trees or shrubs of the class Coniferinae (or group Coniferales), including the pine, fir, spruce, and other cone-bearing trees and shrubs, and also the yews and their allies that bear drupelike seeds.
2. a plant producing naked seeds in cones, or single naked seeds as in yews, but with pollen always borne in cones.

Origin
1851, from L. conifer "cone-bearing," from conus "cone" + ferre "to bear" (see infer). Related: Coniferous (adj., 1660s).

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/conifer