liana

noun

li·​a·​na lē-ˈä-nə How to pronounce liana (audio) -ˈa- How to pronounce liana (audio)
variants or less commonly liane
lē-ˈän How to pronounce liana (audio) -ˈan How to pronounce liana (audio)
: any of various usually woody vines especially of tropical rainforests that root in the ground

Examples of liana in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The warming of low-elevation tropical forests is driving lianas to strangle trees. — Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024 Sliding doors lead to three bedrooms that overlook a dense tangle of fig trees and lianas — a small patch of native forest, conserved by local authorities in an otherwise cramped development. — Michael Snyder Pedro Kok, New York Times, 22 Nov. 2023

Word History

Etymology

French liane

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of liana was in 1796

Rhymes for liana

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Browse Nearby Words

liaison aircraft
liana
liang
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Cite this Entry

“Liana.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liana. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

liana

noun
li·​a·​na lē-ˈän-ə How to pronounce liana (audio) -ˈan-ə How to pronounce liana (audio)
: any of various usually woody vines especially of tropical rain forests that root in the ground

More from Merriam-Webster on liana

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about liana

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