© 2026 Sloth Lingo. Learn easy. Lounge wisely.

acropetal

Upper-Intermediate (B2)

IPA: /əˈkrəʊpɛtəl/

KK: /əˈkrōˌpetl/

adjective
Definition

Referring to a process or growth that starts at the bottom and moves upward toward the top, often used to describe how certain plant parts develop.


Example

The acropetal arrangement of leaves allows the plant to grow more efficiently towards the light.


Conversation
Sloth A
Have you noticed how the flowers in the garden grow acropetal?
Sloth B
Yeah, it's interesting to see the younger blooms at the top.
Sloth A
I love how that makes the garden look so vibrant and full of life.
Sloth B
Absolutely! It really shows how nature has its own beautiful order.

Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
ascending
upward
apical
Antonyms
descending
downward
basal
Root Explanation

Acropetal is formed from "acro-" (from Greek "akron", meaning top or peak) and "petal" (from Greek "petalon", meaning leaf or part of a flower). The term describes growth or development that occurs towards the top or apex of a plant, indicating a direction of growth.

Memory Tip

Think of 'acro-' meaning 'top' and 'petal' referring to a part of a plant, which helps you remember that 'acropetal' describes growth that moves towards the top of the plant.

Visually Confused Words
axopetal
accretal
macropetalous
sacrorectal
crotal
acetal
Is this page helpful?