conifer
American Heritage Dictionary:
Top
con·i·fer
(kŏn'ə-fər, kō'nə-) 
n.
Any of various mostly needle-leaved or scale-leaved, chiefly evergreen, cone-bearing gymnospermous trees or shrubs such as pines, spruces, and firs.
n.
Any of various mostly needle-leaved or scale-leaved, chiefly evergreen, cone-bearing gymnospermous trees or shrubs such as pines, spruces, and firs.
[From New Latin Cōniferae, family name, from Latin, feminine pl. of cōnifer, cone-bearing : cōnus, cone (from Greek kōnos) + -fer, -fer.]
coniferous co·nif'er·ous (kō-nĭf'ər-əs, kə-) adj.Britannica Concise Encyclopedia:
Top
conifer
Any member of the order Pinales, woody plants that bear their seeds and pollen on separate, cone-shaped structures. They constitute the largest division of gymnosperms, with more than 550 species. Most are evergreen, upright trees and shrubs. They grow throughout the world (except in Antarctica) and prefer temperate climate zones. Conifers include the pines (Pinus), junipers (Juniperus), spruces (Picea), hemlocks (Tsuga), firs (Abies), larches (Larix), yews (Taxus), cypresses (Cupressus), bald cypresses (Taxodium), Douglas firs (Pseudotsuga), arborvitaes (Thuja), and related groups. They include the world's smallest and tallest trees. Conifers supply softwood timber used for general construction, mine timbers, fence posts, poles, boxes and crates, and other articles, as well as pulpwood for paper. The wood is also used as fuel and in the manufacture of cellulose products, plywood, and veneers. The trees are the source of resins, volatile oils, turpentine, tars, and pharmaceuticals. Conifer leaves vary in shape but generally have a reduced surface area to minimize water loss. Especially in the pines, firs, and spruces, the leaves are long and stiff and are commonly referred to as needles. Cypresses, cedars, and others have smaller, scalelike leaves. Conifers were the dominant type of vegetation just before the advent of angiosperms ( flowering plant).
For more information on conifer, visit Britannica.com.
A cone-bearing tree or shrub of the gymnospermous order; a softwood which includes cypress, firs, pines, and spruce.
Columbia Encyclopedia:
Top
conifer
conifer (kŏn'ĭfûr) [Lat.,=cone-bearing], tree or shrub of the order Coniferales, e.g., the pine, monkey-puzzle tree, cypress, and sequoia. Most conifers bear cones and most are evergreens, though a few, such as the larch, are deciduous. Conifers are widely distributed over the world but are mostly found in the highlands of temperate regions. The conifers, the ginkgoes, and the cycads comprise the three most important groups of gymnosperms, i.e., plants without true flowers. Conifers are classified in the division Pinophyta, class Pinopsida.
Top
A tree or shrub, often evergreen, usually with needlelike leaves, such as pine, spruce, or hemlock. A few conifers, including bald cypress, larch, and dawn redwood, have needlelike leaves but are deciduous. Another exception is the ginkgo, which has deciduous leaves that are fan shaped, not needlelike. Most conifers bear seeds in woody cones, but junipers, yews, plum yews, and ginkgoes have seeds with fleshy coats. See also gymnosperms.
Word Tutor:
Top
conifer
IN BRIEF: Trees and shrubs that produce cones, such as pines.
The forest was filled with many conifers.
Tutor's tip: We had to "confer" (to consult) with a tree specialist about the health of the "conifer" (an evergreen).
LearnThatWord.com is a free vocabulary and spelling program where you only pay for results!
Random House Word Menu:
Top
categories related to 'conifer'
- Botany and Plant Parts - conifer: cone-bearing gymnosperm, usu. with narrow, needlelike or small, scalelike leaves
- Plants and Plant Parts - conifer: cone-bearing evergreen, usu. with narrow, needlelike or small, scalelike leaves
See crossword solutions for the clue Translations:
Top
Conifer
Nederlands (Dutch)
naaldboom, conifeer
Français (French)
n. - conifère
Deutsch (German)
n. - Nadelbaum, Konifere
Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (φυτολ.) κωνοφόρο (φυτό)
Português (Portuguese)
n. - conífera (f) (Bot.)
Русский (Russian)
хвойное дерево
Español (Spanish)
n. - conífera
Svenska (Swedish)
n. - barrträd
中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
针叶树, 松柏科植物
中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 針葉樹, 松柏科植物
العربيه (Arabic)
(الاسم) نوع من الشجر
עברית (Hebrew)
n. - אצטרובל, עץ מחט
If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.
Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:
Copyrights:
American Heritage Dictionary
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Read more
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 1994-2012 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture & Construction
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture and Construction. Copyright © 2003 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Read more
Columbia Encyclopedia
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/.
Read more
Taylor's Dictionary for Gardeners
Taylor's Dictionary for Gardeners, by Frances Tenenbaum. Copyright © 1997 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Read more
Word Tutor
Copyright © 2004-present by eSpindle Learning, a 501(c) nonprofit organization. All rights reserved.
eSpindle provides personalized spelling and vocabulary tutoring online; sign up free. Read more
eSpindle provides personalized spelling and vocabulary tutoring online; sign up free. Read more
Random House Word Menu
© 2010 Write Brothers Inc. Word Menu is a registered trademark of the Estate of Stephen Glazier.
Write Brothers Inc.
All rights reserved.
Read more
Bradford's Crossword Solver's Dictionary
Collins Bradford's Crossword Solver's Dictionary © Anne Bradford, 1986, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008
HarperCollins Publishers
All rights reserved.
Read more
