tendril

noun

ten·​dril ˈten-drəl 

1

: a leaf, stipule, or stem modified into a slender spirally coiling sensitive organ serving to attach a climbing plant to its support

2

: something suggestive of a tendril

creeping tendrils of fog

tendriled adjective

or tendrilled

ˈten-drəld 

tendrilous

ˈten-drə-ləs 

adjective

Illustration of tendril

• tendril 1

Examples of tendril in a Sentence

A few tendrils of hair framed her face.

Recent Examples on the Web

The red tendrils weaving through this gas represent filaments of cooler gas seen in optical light by the VLT. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 29 Jan. 2025

The aroma was evident last summer on the shrinking mudflats of the Bird’s Foot’s outer tendrils. —Bywarren Cornwall, science.org, 9 Jan. 2025

In the works, two women who resembled the artist — but with blue skin and flowing hair, like tendrils of seaweed — are playing telephone across the two canvases. —Shirley Nwangwa, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2024

Her hair was swept into an updo with a few curly tendrils framing her face. —Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 24 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably modification of Middle French tendron bud, cartilage, alteration of Old French tenrum, from Vulgar Latin *tenerumen, from Latin tener tender — more at tender entry 1

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

tendril

noun

ten·​dril ˈten-drəl 

1

: a slender leafless winding stem by which some climbing plants fasten themselves to a support

2

: something that curls like a tendril

tendrils of hair