Standard Lemma guide

palea

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈpælɪə/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈpeɪlɪə/
  • UK: /ˈpalɪə/
  • UK: /ˈpeɪlɪə/
  • rhymes with -eɪlɪə

1

noun

Meaning 1

The interior chaff or husk of grasses.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, botany, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

One of the chaffy scales or bractlets growing on the receptacle of many compound flowers, such as the sunflower.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, botany, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin palea (“chaff”).

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Polish: podsadek — botany: interior chaff or husk of grasses
  • Polish: przylistek — botany: chaffy scale or bractlet growing on the receptacle of many compound flowers