n. Any of various mostly needle-leaved or scale-leaved, chiefly evergreen, cone-bearing gymnospermous trees or shrubs of the order Coniferales, such as pines, spruces, and firs. [Latin cōnifer, cone-bearing : cōnus, cone (from Greek kōnos; see kō- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots) + -fer, -fer.] co·nifer·ous (kō-nĭfər-əs, kə-) adj. |
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