reniform

ren·i·form
R1E1N1I1F4O1R1M3
UK/ˈɹɛnɪfɔːm/UK/ˈɹiː-/US/ˈɹɛnəˌfɔɹm/US/-nɪ-/

adjective

Synonym of kidney-shaped (“having an approximately circular or elongated ovoid shape with an inward curve or indentation on one side”).

“intussusception with a reniform appearance”

RareScrabble 13

Meanings

adjectivereniform (not comparable)
  1. not comparablebiologySynonym of kidney-shaped (“having an approximately circular or elongated ovoid shape with an inward curve or indentation on one side”).

    intussusception with a reniform appearance

    5 more examples

    multiple reniform circumscribed fat-containing masses

    The Bean […] is oval, and not at all reniform'd like the Kidney-Beans.

    [1745, James Parsons, “Tab. V. Fig. 12. a. Cow-itch, Coughage, or Stinging-Beans.”, in The Microscopical Theatre of Seeds: […], volume I, London: […] F. Needham, […]; and sold by M. Cooper, […], →OCLC, page 201

    [T]he antheræ are reniform: the germen is oval, and obtuſely trigonal; […]

    1751, John Hill, “Class the Sixth. Order the First. Division the First. Hexandria Monogynia, Having Corollæ Divided into Three Segments, and Cups to Them. [TRADESCANTIA.]”, in A General Natural History: Or, New and Accurate Descriptions of the Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals of the Different Parts of the World; […], volume II (A History of Plants), London: […] Thomas Osborne, […], →OCLC, part III (Plants Called the More Perfect Ones), page 364

    In one of the ſegments of the lovver portion of the kidney, there vvas a large reniform Papillæ, in the outer circumference of vvhich a ſmall part of the papillary fleſh vvas vvanting. […] In the oppoſite ſegment, there vvas a fourth reniform Papilla, reſembling the firſt; […]

    1756, Albert Haller [i.e., Albrecht von Haller], “Observation LIX. A Coalition of the Kidnies.”, in Pathological Observations, Chiefly from Dissections of Morbid Bodies, London: […] D. Wilson and T. Durnam, […], →OCLC, page 178

    The oxyde of cobalt, […] is found either ſuperficial, interſperſed, or in lumps; ſometimes botryoidal or reniform or bearing particular impreſſions.

    1799, William Babington, “[Class III. Metals. Order II. Fragile. Genus IV. Cobalt.] Species II. Native Oxyde of Cobalt.”, in A New System of Mineralogy, in the Form of a Catalogue, after the Manner of Baron Born’s Systematic Catalogue of the Collection of Fossils of Mlle. Élénore de Raab, London: […] T[homas] Bensley, […]; and sold by W. Phillips, […]; G. G. and J. Robinsons, […]; and T[homas] Cox, […], →OCLC, page 232

    Synonyms: kidney-shaped

    1. not comparablebiologyOf a leaf: kidney-shaped, with the petiole attached at the notch.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveSynonym of kidney-shaped (“having an approximately circular or elongated ovoid shape with an inward curve or indentation on one side”).

More synonyms by meaning

adjective(of a leaf or bean shape) resembling the shape of kidney

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. New Latinrēnifōrmis“of seeds: kidney-shaped”
  2. Latinrēnis
  3. Englishreniform

Learned borrowing from Latin rēnis (the genitive singular of rēn (“kidney”); see further at that entry) + English -form (suffix meaning ‘having the form or shape of’), modelled after New Latin rēnifōrmis (“of seeds: kidney-shaped”).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan reniforme
  • reniformesynonym of kidney-shaped — see also kidney-shaped
Finnish munuaismainen
  • munuaismainenof a leaf: kidney-shaped, with the petiole attached at the notch
French réniforme
  • réniformesynonym of kidney-shaped — see also kidney-shaped
German nierig
  • nierigsynonym of kidney-shaped — see also kidney-shaped
Italian reniforme
  • reniformesynonym of kidney-shaped — see also kidney-shaped
Latin rēnifōrmis
  • rēnifōrmissynonym of kidney-shaped — see also kidney-shaped
Polish nerkowaty
  • nerkowatyof a leaf: kidney-shaped, with the petiole attached at the notch
Romanian reniform
  • reniformsynonym of kidney-shaped — see also kidney-shaped
Spanish reniforme, arriñonado
  • reniformesynonym of kidney-shaped — see also kidney-shaped
  • arriñonadosynonym of kidney-shaped — see also kidney-shaped
Turkish böbreksi
  • böbreksisynonym of kidney-shaped — see also kidney-shaped

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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