Meanings
nouncircumnutation (countable and uncountable, plural circumnutations)
plural circumnutations
- countableuncountablebiologyThe successive bowing or bending in different directions of the growing tip of the stem of many plants, especially seen in climbing plants.
[T]he increased turgescence of the cells, together with the extensibility of their walls, is the primary cause of the movement of circumnutation.
1880, Charles Darwin, assisted by Francis Darwin, “Introduction”, in The Power of Movement in Plants, London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, page 3
Synonyms & antonyms
Also see
Origin
- Ancient Greekκίρκος (kírkos)
- Latincircus
- Latincircum
- Latincircum-
- Englishcircum-
- Englishnutation
- Englishcircumnutation
Cite this entry
APA
circumnutation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/circumnutation
MLA
“circumnutation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/circumnutation. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “circumnutation,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/circumnutation.
Source: circumnutation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.