Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Palmate \Pal"mate\, n. (Chem.)
   A salt of palmic acid; a ricinoleate. [Obsoles.]

Palmate \Pal"mate\, Palmated \Pal"ma*ted\, a. [L. palmatus
   marked with the palm of a hand, from palma the palm of the
   hand.]
   1. Having the shape of the hand; resembling a hand with the
      fingers spread.

   2. (Bot.) Spreading from the apex of a petiole, as the
      divisions of a leaf, or leaflets, so as to resemble the
      hand with outspread fingers. --Gray.

   3. (Zo["o]l.)
      (a) Having the anterior toes united by a web, as in most
          swimming birds; webbed. See Illust. (i) under {Aves}.
      (b) Having the distal portion broad, flat, and more or
          less divided into lobes; -- said of certain corals,
          antlers, etc.

Source : WordNet®

palmate
     adj 1: (of the feet of water birds) having three toes connected by
            a thin fold of skin
     2: of a leaf shape; having leaflets or lobes radiating from a
        common point [syn: {palm-shaped}]