reticulate

Everyday

1. (science) Reticulate means having a pattern of lines crossing each other like a net, as in the veins of a leaf («reticulate venation»). tree →
2. (rare, formal) To reticulate is to divide or mark into a network. tree →
3. A reticulated python is a huge snake with a net-like pattern on its skin. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on plants, leaves with net-like veins (like oak or rose leaves) have reticulate venation, while grass leaves have parallel veins — a way to sort flowering plants. In zoos, the reticulated python and the reticulated giraffe are named for their net patterns.

Examples

• Rose leaves have reticulate veins. tree →
• Grass has parallel veins, not reticulate ones. tree →
• Hold the leaf up to the light to see its reticulate pattern. tree →
• The reticulated python is one of the longest snakes. tree →
• The reticulated giraffe has neat net-like patches. tree →
• A fishing net is a reticulate pattern. tree →

Note

Formal, scientific word; plain English: net-like. From Latin «reticulum», a little net. Pronounced «ri-TIK-yoo-lut» (adjective) or «ri-TIK-yoo-late» (verb).