coriaceous
/,kɔri'eiʃəs/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Resembling leather in texture or appearance; tough yet flexible: Describes something that has the physical qualities of leather—specifically, being durable, strong, and somewhat pliable, but not soft.
Usage and Examples
- Adjective:
- The plant's leaves were thick and coriaceous, helping it retain water in the arid climate.
- After years of use, the old book's binding had become coriaceous to the touch.
Advanced Usage
- In Botanical Descriptions: The term is frequently used in botany and biology to describe plant leaves, seed pods, or animal integuments that are leathery in texture.
- The botanist noted the coriaceous nature of the orchid's leaves, a common adaptation in epiphytes.
Variants and Related Words
- Coriaceousness (n): The state or quality of being coriaceous.
- The coriaceousness of the material made it ideal for durable outdoor gear.
Synonyms
- Leathery: Having a texture like leather.
- Tough: Strong and durable.
- Pliable: Capable of being bent or flexed without breaking.
Antonyms
- Brittle: Hard but liable to break easily.
- Delicate: Very fine or easily damaged.
- Soft: Easy to mold, cut, or compress.
Notes on Usage
- Formality and Field: "Coriaceous" is a formal, technical term primarily used in scientific contexts (e.g., botany, zoology, mycology). It is rarely used in everyday conversation.
- Precision: It specifically denotes a combination of toughness and flexibility, not just hardness. A rock is tough but not coriaceous because it is not pliable.
Adjective
-
resembling or made to resemble leather; tough but pliable
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