cladode

C3L1A1D2O1D2E1

noun

A flattened organ arising from the stem of a plant, often replacing the leaves in photosynthetic function, as leaves in such plants (such as asparagus or butcher's broom) are typically reduced to scales.

Similar
cladophyllphyllocladphylloclade
OriginNew Latin cladodium ← Ancient Greek κλᾰ́δος →
First used 1870Scrabble 11
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Meanings

nouncladode (plural cladodes)

plural cladodes

  1. biologyA flattened organ arising from the stem of a plant, often replacing the leaves in photosynthetic function, as leaves in such plants (such as asparagus or butcher's broom) are typically reduced to scales.First known use 1870
  2. A generally flattened shoot as of certain cactuses.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna flattened stem resembling and functioning as a leaf

Similar
cladophyllphyllocladphylloclade
Broader
stalkstem
Also see
cladodiumcladophyllphylloclade

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekκλᾰ́δος“young slip of a tree”
  2. New Latincladodium
  3. Englishcladode

From New Latin cladodium, from Ancient Greek κλᾰ́δος (klắdos, “young slip of a tree”).

More words from New Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan cladodi
  • cladodiflattened organ
Polish gałęziak
  • gałęziakflattened organ
Portuguese cladódio
  • cladódioflattened organ
Spanish cladodio
  • cladodioflattened organ
Cite this entry
APA

cladode. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cladode

MLA

“cladode.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cladode. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cladode,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cladode.

Source: cladode on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.