panicle

[ pan-i-kuh l ]
/ ˈpæn ɪ kəl /

noun Botany.

a compound raceme.
any loose, diversely branching flower cluster.

Origin of panicle

1590–1600; < Latin pānicula tuft (on plants), diminutive of pānus thread wound on a bobbin, a swelling, ear of millet < Doric Greek pânos (Attic pênos) a web; see -i-, -cle1

OTHER WORDS FROM panicle

pan·i·cled, adjective

Words nearby panicle

panic disorder, panic grass, panic room, panic stations, panic-stricken, panicle, panicmonger, paniculate, panidiomorphic, panier, panimmunity

Example sentences from the Web for panicles

British Dictionary definitions for panicles

panicle
/ (ˈpænɪkəl) /

noun

a compound raceme, occurring esp in grasses
any branched inflorescence

Derived forms of panicle

panicled, adjective

Word Origin for panicle

C16: from Latin pānicula tuft, diminutive of panus thread, ultimately from Greek penos web; related to penion bobbin

Scientific definitions for panicles

panicle
[ păn′ĭ-kəl ]

A branched indeterminate inflorescence in which the branches are racemes, so that each flower has its own stalk (called a pedicel) attached to the branch. Oats and sorghum have panicles. See illustration at inflorescence.