cyma

UK: /ˈsaɪmə/ US: (sī′mə)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

cy•ma  (sī′mə), n., pl. -mae (-mē), -mas. 

1. Architecture either of two moldings having a partly convex and partly concave curve for an outline: used esp. in classical architecture. Cf. cyma recta, cyma reversa.
2. Botany a cyme.

• Greek kŷma something swollen, a wave, wavy molding, sprout, equivalent. to ký(ein) to be pregnant + -ma noun, nominal suffix
• Neo-Latin
• 1555–65

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

cyma / ˈsaɪmə/ noun ( -mae / -miː/, -mas)

1. either of two mouldings having a double curve, part concave and part convex. Cyma recta has the convex part nearer the wall and cyma reversa has the concave part nearer the wall
2. a rare variant of cyme

Etymology: 16th Century: from New Latin, from Greek kuma something swollen, from kuein to be pregnant