Definition of "foliate" [fo•li•ate]

• Of or relating to leaves. (adjective)
• Shaped like a leaf. (adjective)
• Geology Foliated. (adjective)
• To hammer or cut (metal) into thin leaf or foil. (verb-transitive)
• To coat (glass, for example) with metal foil. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "The action plates, which are engraved in foliate scroll, can have either a multicolored case-hardened finish or a flat-silver coin finish."
• "The capitals topping the pillars are of a simple foliate style."
• "Pigeons glide through foliate passageways, search for scraps at the feet of three old women on a bench, two in black, one in flowers and dots."