any plant of the tropical American family Bromeliaceae, typically epiphytes with a rosette of fleshy leaves. The family includes the pineapple and Spanish moss
Derived forms
bromeliaceous (broˌmeliˈaceous)
adjective
Word origin
C19: from New Latin Bromelia type genus, after Olaf Bromelius (1639–1705), Swedish botanist
bromeliad in American English
(broʊˈmiliˌæd)
noun
any member of the pineapple family of plants, usually having stiff, leathery leaves and spikes of bright flowers, as the pineapple and Spanish moss
Word origin
ModL Bromelia (after O. Bromel, 1639-1705, Swed botanist) + -ad1