spiculum
9.9
A tiny pointed piece in animals like sponges or corals that supports their skeleton
- noun
- /ˈspɪkjələm/
- Specialized
:
espícula
- The biologist studied the spiculum of the sponge under a microscope to understand its structure.
Examples
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The spiculum, being a pointed skeletal element, helps marine invertebrates maintain their shape.
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In the coral reef, each spiculum plays a crucial role in supporting the organism.
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As with the late Roman army, a small number of every legio might have been armed with bows, instead of the usual lancea (light spear) or spiculum (heavy throwing spear/javelin).
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Synonyms
1
9.9
A small, thin, pointed hard part inside sea animals like sponges and corals
is the same concept but uses an alternative name form
Surface Forms
Etymology
Spiculum comes from Latin and meant a small 'spike' or 'point', like the English word spike and from the Latin root spica. Think of a tiny needle or spike inside a sponge or coral, and that's why a spiculum is the small pointed part that helps form the animal's skeleton.