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re·tic·u·late

(rĭ-tĭkyə-lĭt, -lāt′)

adj.

1. Resembling or forming a net or network: reticulate veins of a leaf.

2. Relating to or being an evolutionary process that involves the exchange of genes between organisms of different species, as in the formation of a new species through hybridization.

v. (-lāt′) re·tic·u·lat·ed, re·tic·u·lat·ing, re·tic·u·lates

v.tr.

1. To make a net or network of.

2. To mark with lines resembling a network.

v.intr.

To form a net or network.

[Latin rēticulātus, from rēticulum, diminutive of rēte, net.]

re·ticu·late·ly adv.

re·tic′u·lation n.

(click for a larger image)

reticulate

leaves of a caladium plant

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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