noun In botany, a kind of inflorescence consisting of unisexual apetalous flowers growing in the axils of scales or bracts ranged along a stalk or axis; a catkin. The true ament or catkin is articulated with the branch and is deciduous; it is well seen in the inflorescence of the birch, willow, and poplar, and in the staminate inflorescence of the oak, walnut, and hazel. Also written amentum.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
noun (Bot.) A species of inflorescence; a catkin.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
noun A catkin or amentum
noun A congenitalidiot
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
noun a cylindrical spikelike inflorescence
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
[Latin āmentum, strap.]
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Examples
Their policy is deeply at odds with the majority of Canadians and of Parli ament.
Geddes was not Jewish, but he was very familiar with the Old Testament and was committed to Utopian ideals that could be applied to the new Jewish homeland.
Geddes was not Jewish, but he was very familiar with the Old Testament and was committed to Utopian ideals that could be applied to the new Jewish homeland.
'Tis generally true; for as he observes, [5691] Priorem flammam novus ignis extrudit; et ea multorum natura, ut praesentes maxime ament, one fire drives out another; and such is women's weakness, that they love commonly him that is present.
For either, as he follows it, [5912] you must allow them concubines, or suffer them to marry, for scarce shall you find three priests of three thousand, qui per aetatem non ament, that are not troubled with burning lust.
"In the future, Ernie, when I start tossing superlatives, give me a swift kick and remind me of time I allowed an entire show to be based on one ament al fruit."
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