ˈpædʒəneɪt (especially of metamorphic rock) having thin leaflike layers or strata grow leaves the tree foliated in Spring number the pages of a book or manuscript coat or back with metal foil foliate glass decorate with leaves hammer into thin flat foils foliate metal (often used as a combining form) having or resembling a leaf or having a specified kind or number of leaves ‘foliate’ is combined with the prefix ‘tri’ to form the word ‘trifoliate’ ornamented with foliage or foils foliate tracery a foliated capital