Foliage definitions

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

FO'LIAGE, n. [L. folium, a leaf. See Foil.]
1. Leaves in general; as a tree of beautiful foliage.
2. A cluster of leaves, flowers and branches; particularly, the representation of leaves, flowers and branches, in architecture, intended to ornament and enrich capitals, friezes, pediments, etc.
FO'LIAGE, v.t. To work or to form into the representation of leaves.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants [syn: leaf, leafage, foliage]
2: (architecture) leaf-like architectural ornament [syn: foliation, foliage]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle French fuellage, from foille leaf — more at foil Date: 1598 1. a representation of leaves, flowers, and branches for architectural ornamentation 2. the aggregate of leaves of one or more plants 3. a cluster of leaves, flowers, and branches • foliaged adjective Usage: The disyllabic pronunciation ?f?-lij is very common. Some commentators insist that foliage requires a trisyllabic pronunciation because of its spelling, but words of a similar pattern such as carriage and marriage do not fall under their prescription. The pronunciation ?fo?i-lij is disapproved because it suggests the transposition of the l and i in the spelling. It is not as common as ?f?-lij and may be associated with the nonstandard spelling foilage.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 leaves, leafage. 2 a design in art resembling leaves. Phrases and idioms: foliage leaf a leaf excluding petals and other modified leaves. Etymology: ME f. F feuillage f. feuille leaf f. OF foille: see FOIL(2)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Foliage Fo"li*age, n. [OF. foillage, fueillage, F. feuillage, fr. OF. foille, fueille, fueil, F. feulle, leaf, L. folium. See 3d Foil, and cf. Foliation, Filemot.] 1. Leaves, collectively, as produced or arranged by nature; leafage; as, a tree or forest of beautiful foliage. 2. A cluster of leaves, flowers, and branches; especially, the representation of leaves, flowers, and branches, in architecture, intended to ornament and enrich capitals, friezes, pediments, etc. Foliage plant (Bot.), any plant cultivated for the beauty of its leaves, as many kinds of Begonia and Coleus.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Foliage Fo"li*age, v. t. To adorn with foliage or the imitation of foliage; to form into the representation of leaves. [R.] --Drummond.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

The leaves of a plant are referred to as its foliage. ...shrubs with grey or silver foliage.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Leaves, clusters of leaves, leafage.