imbricate
Like roof tiles
Imbricate describes things arranged in overlapping layers, like roof tiles or fish scales—each piece partly covering the one below.
The pattern appears throughout nature in pinecones, artichoke leaves, and reptile skin.
As a verb, to imbricate is to arrange in this overlapping fashion: The shingles were carefully imbricated to shed water.
Overlapping roof cladding
- shingledCovered with overlapping slabs
- tilesFlat covering pieces
- slatesFlat stone sheets
- thatchDried plant roof covering
eaves · flashing · underlayment · ridge · fascia · rafters · waterproofing · decking
Gapless plane coverage
- mosaicInlaid pictorial arrangement
- overlappingCovering part of another
- layeredHaving multiple levels
- shingledCovered with overlapping slabs
fishscale · scalloped · feathered · chevron · herringbone · lattice · interlocking · sequential
Gilled aquatic vertebrate
- reptileCold-blooded scaled vertebrate
- snakeLimbless scaled reptile
- dragonLegendary fire-breathing reptile
- pangolinScale-covered ant-eating mammal
lizard · armor · scute · keratin · chitin · carapace · exoskeleton · dermal
Colored bloom segments
- sepalsOuter whorl protecting buds
- bractsModified leaves near flowers
- leavesTree's photosynthetic organs
- budUnopened plant growth
scales · cone · pinecone · artichoke · palm · fern · fronds · bulb
Parallel geological layers
- thrustForceful forward motion
- faultImperfection or blame
- tectonicsStudy of crustal deformation
- stratifiedArranged in stacked layers
layered · foliated · schist · laminated · sedimentary · depositional · superimposed
shingles
Overlapping roof cladding
thatch · eaves · flashing · underlayment · ridge · fascia · rafters · waterproofing · decking · pitch
tessellation
Gapless plane coverage
- mosaicInlaid pictorial arrangement
- overlappingCovering part of another
- layeredHaving multiple levels
shingled · fishscale · scalloped · feathered · chevron · herringbone · lattice · interlocking · sequential · repeating
fish
Gilled aquatic vertebrate
- reptileCold-blooded scaled vertebrate
- snakeLimbless scaled reptile
- dragonLegendary fire-breathing reptile
pangolin · lizard · armor · scute · keratin · chitin · carapace · exoskeleton · dermal · cuticle
petals
Colored bloom segments
- sepalsOuter whorl protecting buds
- bractsModified leaves near flowers
- leavesTree's photosynthetic organs
bud · scales · cone · pinecone · artichoke · palm · fern · fronds · bulb · succulent
strata
Parallel geological layers
stratified · layered · foliated · schist · laminated · sedimentary · depositional · superimposed
imbricateabutting
Sharing a common border
edge-to-edge · tessellated · aligned · juxtaposed · gapped