English
The peduncles of Kniphofia northiae are typical terete stems, cylindrical, and with little taper
Etymology
From Latin teres (“rounded (cylindrical)”).
Senecio haworthii has leaves that, though not very long, and tapered at both ends, are terete: they have a circular cross section.
Adjective
terete (comparative more terete, superlative most terete)
- Having a smooth circular cross-section; cylindrical, commonly more or less tapering.
Usage notes
- In common usage, the term terete suggests long and tapering plant stems, but it really describes the circular cross section rather than the length or taper.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Anagrams
Sora
Pronunciation
Noun
terete
- metal flute
References
- Ramamurti, R. S. (1933). Sora–English Dictionary. Delhi: Mittal Publication.
Spanish
Pronunciation
Adjective
terete m or f (masculine and feminine plural teretes)
Further reading
- “terete”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025