terete

adjective

te·​rete tə-ˈrēt How to pronounce terete (audio)
te-
: approximately cylindrical but usually tapering at both ends
a terete seedpod

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin teret-, teres "having no angles, smooth and rounded," probably adjective derivative from the base of terere "to rub, grind, wear down" — more at trite

First Known Use

circa 1619, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of terete was circa 1619

Dictionary Entries Near terete

Teresina

terete

Tereus

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Terete.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terete. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

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