noun
any of several tropical ferns having more or less sword-shaped fronds including one from which the Boston fern developed
• Hypernyms: ↑fern
• Hyponyms: ↑Boston fern, ↑Nephrolepis exaltata, ↑Nephrolepis exaltata bostoniensis, ↑basket fern, ↑toothed sword fern, ↑Nephrolepis pectinata
• Member Holonyms: ↑Nephrolepis, ↑genus Nephrolepis
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noun : any of several ferns with long narrow more or less sword-shaped fronds: as
a. : a tropical fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) from which the Boston fern has been developed
b. : giant holly fern
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any fern of the genus Nephrolepis, esp. N. exaltata, characterized by sword-shaped, pinnate fronds, a common houseplant.
[1820-30]
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sword fern noun
A fern with long sword-shaped fronds
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Main Entry: ↑sword
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sword fern,
a tropical or subtropical fern with long, pinnate fronds.
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n. a fern with long slender fronds. ● Genera Polystichum and Nephrolepis, family Dryopteridaceae: several species, including the North American P. munitum and the tropical N. exaltata
Useful english dictionary. 2012.