patulous

/ˈpætʃələs/
adjective
  1. Spreading or opening widely, especially of a plant's parts such as branches, leaves, or petals.
    • The gardener pruned the patulous stems to encourage more compact growth.
    • The patulous branches of the old oak tree provided plenty of shade.
    • She admired the patulous petals of the sunflower as they stretched toward the sun.
  2. Open or expanded; not closed or contracted.
    • His patulous smile made everyone feel welcome at the party.
    • The wound remained patulous, requiring careful cleaning and bandaging.
    • The patulous mouth of the cave invited the explorers inside.
What does "patulous" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean