reticulate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2 (Low frequency, specialized)Formal, Academic, Scientific, Technical
Quick answer
What does “reticulate” mean?
To form, divide, or mark something into a network of fine lines resembling a net or having a net-like pattern.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To form, divide, or mark something into a network of fine lines resembling a net or having a net-like pattern.
Can refer to the interconnected, network-like structure of systems (e.g., biological, computational), or the act of creating such a network.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Equally technical/scientific in both varieties. No regional connotative differences.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialized in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “reticulate” in a Sentence
Something reticulates (intransitive).Something is reticulated (passive).To reticulate something (transitive, rare).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “reticulate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The artist used a fine pen to reticulate the surface of the sculpture.
- In this species, the veins reticulate in a highly distinctive manner.
American English
- The system is designed to reticulate water to each plot efficiently.
- The cells began to reticulate, forming a complex web.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in biology (leaf venation), geology, materials science, and some social sciences to describe network structures.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would be considered an advanced or 'fancy' word.
Technical
The primary domain. Used precisely to describe specific net-like patterns in various scientific fields.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “reticulate”
- Mispronunciation: /ˈretɪkjʊlɪt/ (wrong stress).
- Using as a common synonym for 'connect'. It implies a very specific, often visual, net-like pattern.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, specialized term used primarily in academic and technical contexts (biology, geology, materials science).
Yes. As a verb: 'to form a network'. As an adjective: 'having a net-like pattern' (e.g., reticulate veins).
'Netted' or 'networked' are the closest simple synonyms when describing a pattern.
Use it only in appropriate technical contexts. In everyday speech, prefer simpler terms like 'net-like', 'webbed', or 'interconnected'.
Reticulate is usually formal, academic, scientific, technical in register.
Reticulate: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˈtɪkjʊleɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /rəˈtɪkjəˌleɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A (No common idioms use this word)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'net' in 'INTERNET' – a REticulate pattern is like a REpeated NET (re+net+iculate).
Conceptual Metaphor
A NETWORK IS A WEB / A PATTERN IS A NET.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'reticulate' MOST commonly used?