foliate

[adj. foh-lee-it, -eyt; v. foh-lee-eyt] /adj. ˈfoʊ li ɪt, -ˌeɪt; v. ˈfoʊ liˌeɪt/
adjective
1.
covered with or having leaves.
2.
like a leaf, as in shape.
3.
Also, foliated. Architecture.
  1. ornamented with or composed of foils:
    foliate tracery.
  2. ornamented with representations of foliage:
    a foliate capital.
4.
Petrology, Mineralogy, foliated (def 2).
verb (used without object), foliated, foliating.
5.
to put forth leaves.
6.
to split into thin leaflike layers or laminae.
verb (used with object), foliated, foliating.
7.
to shape like a leaf or leaves.
8.
to decorate with foils or foliage.
9.
to form into thin sheets.
10.
to spread over with a thin metallic backing.
11.
Printing. to number the folios or leaves, as distinguished from pages, of (a manuscript or book).
Origin
1620-30; < Latin foliātus leafy. See folium, -ate1
Related forms
subfoliate, adjective
Examples from the web for foliate
  • More frequent are radiantly colored geometric or foliate patterns with ornate borders.
  • It is a four-story steel frame skeleton, faced with brick, and has exuberant terra-cotta foliate ornament at the attic level.
  • Nestled under the numerous tri-foliate leaves are several dozen creamy or yellowish-white flowers about an inch long.
  • Accessing the balcony are narrow wood stairs with ornately carved foliate wood newel posts.
  • Significant leaf drop can occur in late spring, but trees usually re-foliate by midsummer.
  • The carving consists of a central rose flanked by two simple foliate scrolls.
British Dictionary definitions for foliate

foliate

adjective (ˈfəʊlɪɪt; -ˌeɪt)
1.
  1. relating to, possessing, or resembling leaves
  2. in combination: trifoliate
2.
(of certain metamorphic rocks, esp schists) having the constituent minerals arranged in thin leaflike layers
verb (ˈfəʊlɪˌeɪt)
3.
(transitive) to ornament with foliage or with leaf forms such as foils
4.
to hammer or cut (metal) into thin plates or foil
5.
(transitive) to coat or back (glass, etc) with metal foil
6.
(transitive) to number the leaves of (a book, manuscript, etc) Compare paginate
7.
(intransitive) (of plants) to grow leaves
Word Origin
C17: from Latin foliātus leaved, leafy
Word Origin and History for foliate
adj.

1620s, from Latin foliatus "leaved, leafy," from folium (see folio).

v.

1660s, "to apply silver leaf," from Latin foliatus "leaved, leafy," from folium (see folio). Meaning "to put forth leaves" is from 1775. Related: Foliated; foliating.