tendril

noun

ten·dril ˈten-drəl

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

: something suggestive of a tendril

creeping tendrils of fog

tendriled adjective

or tendrilled

ˈten-drəld

tendrilous

ˈten-drə-ləs

adjective

Examples of tendril in a Sentence

A few tendrils of hair framed her face.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Pea shoots are the delicate leaves, stems and tendrils of the snow pea plant. — Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 2 June 2026 The plants will become taller, push out leaves, reach for support with their tiny tendrils, and develop blossoms. — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 2 July 2026 Ideal for a wedding or black-tie gala, Hannah Bronfman’s twisty updo and face-framing tendrils are sure to enchant. — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 2 July 2026 Her otherwise warm and neutral makeup is given intensity with a wash of forest green across and beyond her lids, where her curly tendrils just happen to hit. — Marci Robin, Allure, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for tendril

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of tendril was in 1538

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

tendresse

tendril

tendriled

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Tendril.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tendril. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

tendril

noun

ten·dril ˈten-drəl

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

: something that curls like a tendril

tendrils of hair

tendril

noun

Illustration of tendril

Examples of tendril in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on tendril

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

effulgence

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes