adventitious
ad·ven·ti·tious / ˌadvenˈtishəs/ • adj. happening or carried on according to chance rather than design or inherent nature. ∎ coming from outside; not native: the adventitious population. ∎ Biol. formed accidentally or in an unusual anatomical position: propagation of sour cherries by adventitious shoots. ∎ Bot. (of a root) growing directly from the stem or other upper part of a plant.DERIVATIVES: ad·ven·ti·tious·ly adv.
adventitious
adventitious coming from without, accidental, casual. XVII. f. adventitius, medL. sp. of L. adventīcius, f. advent-; see prec. and -ITIOUS1.
adventitious
adventitious (ad-ven-ti-shŭs) adj.
1. occurring in a place other than the usual one.
2. relating to the adventitia.
adventitious
adventitious Growing from an unusual position, e.g. roots from a leaf or stem.
adventitious
adventitious Describing organs or other structures that arise in unusual positions. For example, ivy has adventitious roots growing from its stems.