n. (Bot.) Any plant of the natural order
n. a natural family of ancient palmlike plants closely related to ferns in that fertilization is by means of spermatozoids.
a. (Bot.) Pertaining to, or resembling, an order of plants like the palms, but having exogenous wood. The sago palm is an example. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. an order of primitive tropical gymnosperms abundant in the Mesozoic, now reduced to a few scattered tropical forms.
n. an order of fossil gymnospermous trees or climbing plants from the Devonian: seed ferns.
n. [ Of uncertain origin. Linnæus derives it from one of the “obscure Greek words.” ] (Bot.) A genus of trees, intermediate in character between the palms and the pines. The pith of the trunk of some species furnishes a valuable kind of sago. [ 1913 Webster ]