palm

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
  2. noun a linear unit based on the length or width of the human hand
  3. noun any plant of the family Palmae having an unbranched trunk crowned by large pinnate or palmate leaves

Etymology

From Middle English palme, from Old English palm, palma (“palm-tree, palm-branch”), from Latin palma (“palm-tree, palm-branch, palm of the hand”), from Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₂meh₂, *pl̥h₂emeh₂ (“palm of the hand”), from Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂- (“flat”). Cognate with Dutch palm, German Palme, Danish palme, Icelandic pálmur (“palm”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

thenar

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