ENGLISH
REFERENCE

foliage

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈfoʊɫiɪdʒ// UK //fˈəʊlɪɪdʒ// fo·liage

n. the leaves of a plant or many plants together. You often use this word when talking about how leaves look, especially in the autumn.

n. the collective leaves of a plant or a group of plants. Refers to the mass of leaves as a single aesthetic or biological unit.


SIMPLE

The garden is full of thick, green foliage.

CONTEXTUAL

In October, tourists travel to New England to see the vibrant red and orange foliage of the maple trees.

COMPLEX

The dense tropical foliage provided a natural canopy that shielded the forest floor from the intense midday sun and heavy rainfall.

Synonyms
Origin

From earlier foilage, from Late Middle English ffoylage, from Middle French feuillage. The more recent form is influenced by Latin folium (“leaf”).

Usage

Uncountable in its general sense; occasionally used as a countable noun in technical botanical descriptions of different leaf types.

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