Commelinaceae com·me·li·naceae uncommon noun 1. large widely distributed family of chiefly perennial herbs or climbers: spiderworts Synonymsfamily Commelinaceaespiderwort family Related words Broader terms monocot family Parts Xyridales Part of genus CommelinaspiderwortTradescantia WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved.