To notch, indent, or remove the margins or edges of something, particularly in botanical descriptions.
From Latin emar- (variant of emarginatus 'having notched margins') + -ate (verb suffix). The root combines e- 'out' + margo 'margin' + -inatus. Used in botany to describe leaf or petal edges.
Botanists use this constantly: a leaf that's 'emarginate' has a distinctive notch at the tip, like someone took scissors to it. It's one of hundreds of specialized adjectives plants earned, because leaves are endlessly variable!
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