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Shapes and Resemblance

This assortment of 370 adjectives all refer in some way to the form or shape of things. Some are more geometrically descriptive than others, while a number of terms refer to animal forms or shapes of obscure objects. Certain adjectives for shapes are also often used to indicate general similarity of attributes, in addition to or rather than physical resemblance. In some cases, when two very similar shape adjectives exist for the same term, I have included only the most popular or frequently used.


Word Definition
acetabuliform shaped like a shallow cup or saucer
acicular needle-shaped
acinaciform scimitar-shaped
aciniform shaped like a berry
aculeiform shaped like a thorn
adeniform shaped like a gland
aduncate shaped like a hook or crook
aeriform of the form or shape of gas; gaseous
aliform wing-shaped
allantoid shaped like a sausage
amygdaloid almond-shaped; of, like or pertaining to tonsils
ancistroid hook-shaped
ancoral of, shaped like or resembling an anchor
anguiform shaped like a snake
anguilliform shaped like an eel
ankyroid hook-shaped
annodated shaped like the letter S
ansate having a handle or hand-like shape
apsidal shaped like an apse
aquiform watery; liquid
araneiform shaped like a spider
arborescent branched; branching; tree-shaped
arboriform shaped like a tree
arcate bow-shaped
arciform shaped like a bow
arcuate arched; bow-shaped
arietinous shaped like a ram's head
aspergilliform shaped like a brush
aspidate shield-shaped
auriform shaped like an ear
aveniform shaped like oats
axiniform shaped like an axe-head
bacciform shaped like a berry
baculiform rod-shaped
balanoid acorn-shaped
belemnoid shaped like a dart
beloid shaped like an arrow
belonoid shaped like a needle
boniform having the form of good
boviform cow-shaped
branchiform gill-shaped
buccinal shaped or sounding like a trumpet
bufoniform shaped like a toad
bulliform shaped like a blister or boil
bursiform shaped like a pouch or purse
calathiform cup-shaped
calcariform spur-shaped
calceiform shaped like a slipper
calciform pebble-shaped
campaniform bell-shaped
campanulate shaped like a bell
cancriform shaped like a crab
cannular hollow or tube-shaped
capriform goatlike
cardioid heart-shaped
carinated shaped like the prow or keel of a ship
cariniform keel-shaped
cassideous helmet-shaped
caudiform tail-like; tail-shaped
cauliform shaped like or resembling a stem
ceratoid shaped like a horn; horny
cheliform shaped like a pincer
choanoid shaped like a funnel
cingular shaped like a girdle or ring
circinate ring-shaped; rolled inwards; spiralling
clathrate shaped like a net or lattice
clavate club-shaped
claviform in the shape of a club
clithridiate shaped like a keyhole
clypeate shaped like a buckler
cochlear anything spiral-shaped; twisted spirally
coliform resembling or shaped like a sieve
colliform shaped like or resembling a neck
colubriform shaped like a snake
conchiform shaped like a shell
conglobate shaped like a small ball or globe
coracoid shaped like a crow's beak
cordate heart-shaped
cordiform heart-shaped
corniculate horn-shaped; horned
corniform shaped like a horn
coronoid shaped like a beak
corviform shaped like a crow
cotyliform disc-shaped with a raised rim
crateriform cup-shaped
cribriform shaped like a sieve
cricoid ring-shaped
cruciform cross-shaped
cteniform comb-shaped
cubiform shaped like a cube
cucullate hooded; hood-shaped
cucumiform cucumber-shaped
culiciform like or resembling a mosquito
cultriform knife-shaped
cumuliform shaped like a heap
cuneate wedge-shaped
cuneiform shaped like a wedge
cupulate of, like or pertaining to a cup; cup-shaped
cyathiform shaped like a cup
cymbiform shaped like a boat
deiform appearing like or shaped like a god
deltoid shaped like a delta or triangle
dendriform shaped like a tree
dendritiform branched
dentiform shaped like a tooth
digitiform shaped like a finger
disciform round or oval in shape
dolabriform resembling a hatchet or cleaver
dolioform shaped like a barrel
draconiform shaped like a dragon
drepaniform shaped like a sickle
echinuliform resembling small spines
embryoniform shaped like an embryo
ensiform resembling or possessing characteristics of a sword
eruciform like or resembling a caterpillar
fabiform shaped like a bean
falciform shaped like a sickle
faviform shaped like a honeycomb
feliform having a catlike form or shape
fibriform shaped like a fibre
fibrilliform shaped like a small fibre
ficiform shaped like a fig
filiciform shaped like a fern or frond
filiform shaped like a thread
fistuliform shaped like a pipe
flabelliform shaped like a fan
flagelliform shaped like a whip
floriform shaped like a flower
foliform shaped like a leaf
forcipiform shaped like forceps
foveiform shaped like a depression or pit
fringilliform resembling a finch
fucoid shaped like seaweed
fulciform shaped like or resembling a prop
fundiform shaped like a sling
fungiform shaped like a fungus
furcular shaped like a fork
fusiform shaped like a spindle
galeated shaped like a helmet
galeiform shaped like a helmet
gasiform of the form or shape of gas
geminiform paired; double
gladiate shaped like a sword
glandiform gland-shaped; acorn-shaped
glenoid slightly cupped; socket-shaped
gliriform resembling a rodent
guttiform shaped like a drop
hamiform shaped like a hook
harengiform shaped like a herring
hastate spear-shaped
hederiform shaped like ivy
helicoid screw-shaped; like a coil
helminthoid worm-shaped
herpetiform resembling or shaped like a reptile
hippocrepian horseshoe-shaped
hippocrepiform shaped like a horseshoe
homaloidal of the nature of a plane; flat; plane-shaped
hominiform shaped like a human
hordeiform shaped like a barleycorn
hyoid having a "U" shape
hypsiloid shaped like the Greek letter upsilon
ichthyomorphic shaped like a fish
igniform having the shape or form of fire
infundibuliform having the form or shape of a funnel or cone
janiform having two faces
lacertiform shaped like a lizard
lachrymiform shaped like a tear
laciniform shaped like a fringe
lageniform shaped like a flask
lambdoid shaped like the letter lambda (^) or “L”
lamelliform shaped like a plate or layer
lanceolate shaped like a lance-head
lanciform shaped like a lance
lapilliform shaped like a small stone
lentiform shaped like a lens
leporiform resembling or shaped like a hare
libriform shaped like a book
ligniform of the form or shape of wood
ligulate resembling or shaped like a strap
limaciform slug-like
linguiform shaped like a tongue
lobular shaped like a lobe
luciform like light
lumbriciform shaped like a worm; worm-like
lunate crescent-shaped
lunulate shaped like a small crescent
lupiform shaped like a wolf
lyrate lyre-shaped
malleiform shaped like a hammer
mammiform shaped like a breast
mammiliform shaped like a nipple
mammose shaped like a breast
mandibuliform shaped like a mandible or jaw-bone
maniform having the shape of a hand
manubrial shaped like a handle
medusiform resembling a jellyfish
menisciform shaped like a crescent
mitrate shaped like a mitre or bonnet
mitriform mitre-shaped
molariform shaped like a molar
moniliform shaped like a string of beads
montiform shaped like a mountain
morbilliform like or resembling measles
moriform shaped like a mulberry
mucroniform like, having or resembling a sharp point
muriform resembling a mouse or rat
muscariform shaped like a brush
napiform shaped like a turnip
nariform shaped like the nostrils
nasutiform shaped like a nose
natiform shaped like buttocks
navicular boat-shaped
naviform boat-shaped
nephroid kidney-shaped
neuralgiform like or shaped like a nerve
nubiform cloudlike
nuciform shaped like a nut
nummiform shaped like a coin
oculiform shaped like an eye
olivary olive-shaped
oliviform shaped like an olive
omegoid shaped like a horseshoe or omega
ooidal egg-shaped
ophiomorphic shaped like a snake
oriform shaped like a mouth
ostreiform shaped like an oyster
oviform like a sheep
oviform shaped like an oval or egg
ovopyriform having a shape between a pear and an egg
palaceous spade-shaped
paliform shaped like a stake
palmate hand-shaped
pampiniform like a tendril
panduriform fiddle-shaped
papilliform nipple-shaped
paraboliform shaped like a parabola
patelliform shaped like a saucer or kneecap
pateriform saucer-shaped
pectiniform shaped like a comb
pediform shaped like a foot
pelecoid shaped like a hatchet; a hatchet-shaped geometrical figure
peltastiform shield-shaped
pelviform basin-shaped
pencilliform paintbrush-shaped
penniform feather-shaped
phacoid lens-shaped
phialiform saucer-shaped
phylliform shaped like a leaf
piciform of the form or shape of a woodpecker
piciform of the nature of or resembling pitch
pileated cap-shaped; crested; capped
pileiform shaped like an umbrella
piliform shaped like hair
pineal shaped like a pine-cone
pinnate shaped like a feather
pisciform shaped like a fish
pisiform shaped like a pea
placentiform cake-shaped
plataleiform spoonbilled; of the shape of a spoonbill
plexiform shaped like a network
poculiform cup-shaped
podiform shaped like a pod
pomiform shaped like an apple
poriform having the form of a pore
probosciform shaped like a long nose
pugioniform dagger-shaped
pulvilliform shaped like a cushion
punctiform shaped like a point
pyrgoidal tower-shaped
pyriform shaped like a pear
radiciform like a root
raduliform like a rasp or file
ramiform branching; shaped like branches
raniform frog-like
remiform oar-shaped
reniform shaped like a kidney
restiform shaped like a cord
retiform shaped like a net
rhamphoid hooked beak shaped
rhipidate fan-shaped
rhomboid shaped like a parallelogram
riziform shaped like a grain of rice
rostelliform shaped like a small beak
ruiniform having the form or appearance of ruins
sacciform shaped like a sac
sacculiform shaped like a small sac
sagittal shaped like an arrow
sagittiform shaped like an arrowhead
salpiform shaped like a barrel
scalariform shaped like a ladder
scalpeliform shaped like a scalpel
scalpriform shaped like a chisel
scaphoid boat-shaped
scapiform shaped like a stalk
sciuroid shaped like a squirrel’s tail
scrotiform shaped like a pouch
scutellate shaped like a platter
scutiform shaped like a shield
scyphiform shaped like a cup
securiform shaped like an axe
selliform shaped like a saddle
semilunate shaped like a half-moon
septiform shaped like a partition
serratiform saw-shaped; serriform
serriform saw-shaped
setiform shaped like a bristle
sigmate shaped like an S or a sigma
sigmoid S-shaped
siphoniform shaped like a siphon
soleiform slipper-shaped
soliform sun-like; resembling the sun
spadiceous shaped like a palm branch
spatulate shaped like a spatula
sphenoid wedge-shaped
spicaceous shaped like a spike
spiniform like a thorn or spine
spiraliform shaped like a spiral
squaliform shaped like a shark
squamiform shaped like a scale
stalactiform shaped like a stalactite or icicle
stapediform shaped like a stirrup
stellate star-shaped; starry
stelliform shaped like a star
stipiform shaped like a stalk
stirious shaped like an icicle
stratiform layered; forming a layer
strigiform shaped like an owl
strombuliform shaped like a spinning top; spirally twisted
struthiform ostrich-like
styliform shaped like a bristle
subulate awl-shaped
sudiform shaped like a stake
sulciform having the shape of a groove
taenioid of a ribbon-like shape
tauriform having the form of a bull
tauromorphous bull-shaped
tectiform shaped like a roof
theiform of the form of tea
toroid shaped like a doughnut or anchor-ring
trinacriform three-pronged
trochiform shaped like a spinning-top
tuberiform shaped like a lump or protuberance
tubiform shaped like a tube
turbinate shaped like a top or inverted cone
turriform shaped like a tower
tympaniform drum-like; shaped like a drum
umbiliciform shaped like a navel
umbraculiform shaped like an umbrella
unciform shaped like a hook
unguiform shaped like a claw
urceiform shaped like a pitcher
urceolate shaped like a pitcher
ursiform having the shape or appearance of a bear
utriculiform shaped like a small cavity or sac
utriform shaped like a leather bottle or flask
uvelloid resembling a small cluster of grapes
variform of various forms
vasculiform shaped like a small vase or flowerpot
vasiform shaped like a duct or vase
vergiform shaped like a rod
vermiform shaped like a worm
verruciform shaped like a wart; wartlike
versiform changing in form
villiform of the form or shape of velvet
viperiform shaped like a snake or viper
vitriform of the form or shape of glass
vulviform shaped like an oval or a vulva
xiphoid sword-shaped
ypsiliform shaped like an upsilon
zosteriform shaped like a girdle


I hope you have found this site to be useful. If you have any corrections, additions, or comments, please contact me. Please note that I am not able to respond to all requests. Please consult a major dictionary before e-mailing your query. All material on this page © 1996-2021 Stephen Chrisomalis. Links to this page may be made without permission.

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