From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary EnglishRelated topics: Plantsfernfern /fɜːn $ fɜːrn/ noun [countable]HBPa type of plant with green leaves shaped like large feathers, but no flowers —ferny adjectiveExamples from the Corpusfern• Hairytongues like fat black fernsspilled out of them, shivering in the draught of their passing.• And there are people who leave the track while trying to gather a few ferns.• In general, ferns like organically enriched, moist but well-draining soil on the acid side.• The air smelled of the black soil brought down from the mountains to make Tia Mimi s giantferns grow tall.• And if you have partialsun, hollyfern would be a good choice, as would dwarfgardenias.• Several rareferns grow on the steep banks of the burn where it runs into the lake.• Description: This aquatic water fern is a rosette plant which has dense, fibrousroots.OriginfernOld Englishfearn