flocculent
English
WOTD – 18 May 2006
Etymology
From Latin floccus (“flock of wool”).
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈflɒkjʊlənt/
Audio (US) (file) Audio (AU) (file)
Adjective
flocculent (comparative more flocculent, superlative most flocculent)
- Flocculated, resembling bits of wool; woolly.
- 1871 May, T[homas] H[enry] Potts, “Art. XI.—On the Birds of New Zealand. [...] (Part II.)”, in James Hector, editor, Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute, 1870, volume III, Wellington: James Hughes, printer, […]; London: Trübner 7 Co., […], OCLC 637513456, pages 61–62:
- As soon as night begins to spread its darkening shadows over our brief twilight, this active creature [the morepork] sets out on its hunting excursions, roaming over field and gully with soft, noiseless flight, one of the advantages it owes to its flocculent plumage; [...]
-
- Covered in a woolly substance; downy.
- Flaky.
Derived terms
- flocculent spiral galaxy
Translations
woolly
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Noun
flocculent (plural flocculents)
- (astronomy) diminutive of flocculent spiral galaxy
Antonyms
- (galaxy): grand design
Hyponyms
- (galaxy): multi-arm