apical
/ˈeɪpɪk(ə)l
/ /ˈapɪk(ə)l/adjective
1 technical Relating to or denoting an apex.Shoot length was measured from the insertion point on the stem to the tangent line between the apices of the most apical green leaves....
- Cell size was calculated by dividing the mean total apical area by the mean number of cells for each apex.
- The top-most, or apical, bud of a shoot has dominance over all the lateral buds below it.
2 Phonetics (Of a consonant) formed with the tip of the tongue at or near the front teeth or the alveolar ridge, for example th or trilled r.His contribution to the study of errors in apical consonant articulation are world famous....
- Variations can be made by changing the shape of the tongue behind the apical closure.
Origin
Early 19th century: from Latin apex, apic- (see apex) + -al.