acantho-

American  

especially before a vowel, acanth-.

1. a combining form from Greek meaning “spine,” used in the formation of compound words.

   acanthocephalan.

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acantho- British  

combining form

1. indicating a spine or thorn

   acanthocephalan

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Usage

What does acantho- mean? The combining form acantho- is used like a prefix meaning “spine,” especially in the sense of sharp, thorny projections. It is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology and pathology.The form acantho- comes from Greek ákantha, meaning “thorn” or “thorny plant,” which is a compound of akḗ, “point,” and ánthos, “flower.” Find out how acantho- is related to acme, the highest point, and anthology, a collection of writing, at our entry for each word.What are variants of acantho-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, acantho- becomes acanth-, as in acanthoid.

Etymology

Origin of acantho-

< Greek akantho-, combining form of ákantha thorn