acanthoid
- adjective
- /əˈkænθɔɪd/
- Specialized
:
acantoide
- The fossil showed an acanthoid projection resembling a small thorn.
Examples
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Many cacti have acanthoid features that deter herbivores.
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Marine organisms with acanthoid structures are adapted to protect themselves from predators.
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The plant's acanthoid leaves deterred most animals from eating it.
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The acanthoid structures of the plant were fascinating.
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The plant's acanthoid leaves deterred most animals from eating it.
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Many cacti have acanthoid features that deter herbivores.
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The fossil showed an acanthoid projection resembling a small thorn.
Synonyms
1
9.0
Having sharp pointed parts like thorns that protect a plant or animal
Having small sharp spines or thorns on the surface
A thing with sharp pointed parts like thorns
Having sharp spines or points like a stinger
Long, very thin, and pointed like a needle
How Spiny
Surface Forms
Morphology
acanthoid = acanthus (opaque) = acanth + oid
Both the combining form 'acanth-' and the suffix '-oid' are technical/learned elements; an average B1 learner would not reliably derive 'shaped like a spine/thorn' from them.
Etymology
The word acanthoid comes from the Greek part acanth- meaning 'thorn' and the ending -oid meaning 'like'. So acanthoid means 'thorn-like' or 'shaped like a spine', which is why we use it for things that look like small thorns or spines.