pine cone shape

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   The rounded, overlapping form of a pine cone, wide in the middle and tapering at both ends.

   Grammar: Countable: use an or the, and the plural is pine cone shapes.

   Patterns

   • a pine cone shape
   • in the shape of a pine cone
   • the pine cone shape of something

   The lamp has a pine cone shape, with a wide middle and narrow ends.

   She drew a pine cone shape on the board to show how the scales overlap.

   The pine cone shape of the building helps it shed snow.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Having the form of a pine cone, especially used before a noun.

   Grammar: Usually written with hyphens: pine-cone-shaped.

   Patterns

   • a pine-cone-shaped object
   • pine-cone-shaped scales

   The pine-cone-shaped roof is covered in wooden tiles.

   They collected pine-cone-shaped stones on the beach.

Word forms

Common combinations

in the shape of a pine cone

The cake was baked in the shape of a pine cone.

a pine cone shape

The vase has a pine cone shape.

pine-cone-shaped

The pine-cone-shaped pendant hung from a silver chain.

the shape of a pine cone

The shape of a pine cone is easy to recognize.

Synonyms and how they differ

conical

Conical means shaped like a cone, but a pine cone is more rounded than a simple cone, so pine cone shape is more precise.

ovoid

Ovoid means egg-shaped; a pine cone shape is similar but has overlapping scales and a pointed tip.

Word family

pine cone noun

The seed-producing structure of a pine tree.

pine-cone-shaped adjective

Having the form of a pine cone.

Commonly confused: pine cone shape or cone shape?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “pine cone shape”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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