palmate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite (of the feet of water birds) having three toes connected by a thin fold of skin
  2. adjective satellite of a leaf shape; having leaflets or lobes radiating from a common point
    palm-shaped.

WordNet

Pal"mate noun
Definitions
  1. (Chem.) A salt of palmic acid; a ricinoleate. Obsoles.
Pal"mate, Pal"ma*ted adjective (Also<
  • Palmate
  • Palmated
)
Etymology
L. palmatus marked with the palm of a hand, from palma the palm of the hand.
Definitions
  1. Having the shape of the hand; resembling a hand with the fingers spread.
  2. (Bot.) Spreading from the apex of a petiole, as the divisions of a leaf, or leaflets, so as to resemble the hand with outspread fingers. Gray.
  3. (Zoöl.) (a) Having the anterior toes united by a web, as in most swimming birds; webbed. See Illust. (i) under Aves. (b) Having the distal portion broad, flat, and more or less divided into lobes; -- said of certain corals, antlers, etc.

Webster 1913