pomelike

Pomelike is an adjective used to describe something that resembles a pom-pom, a pome fruit, or a rounded, compact form with a soft or full appearance. The term commonly appears in design, fashion, botany, and descriptive writing to convey a sense of density, evenness of contour, and a conspicuously rounded bulk.

Etymology and usage notes

Pomelike is formed by adding the suffix -like to pom(o)-, drawing on either pom-pom (the fluffy decorative ball) or pome (a botanical term for a fleshy fruit such as an apple or pear). In practice, the intended meaning is usually inferred from context, and writers may distinguish between pomelike (fluffy, decorative mass) and pome-like or pomiform (apple- or fruit-shaped). The word is relatively informal and tends to appear in descriptive passages rather than technical jargon.

Contexts and examples

In fashion and interior design, a pomelike silhouette may describe a rounded, plush chair or a garment with a voluminous, squared-off puff. In botany or horticulture, a fruit or floral head might be described as pomelike if it presents a tight, globular form with a dense center. The term can also appear in sculpture or architecture to signal a bulbous, compact mass.

Related terms

Related concepts include pom-pom, pome, pomiform, and pome-like. Pomelike remains a flexible, informal descriptor best clarified by accompanying details about texture, size, and contour.

See also: pom-pom, pome, pomiform, pome-like.