achene

or a·kene

[ ey-keen, uh-keen ]
See synonyms for achene on Thesaurus.com
nounBotany.
  1. any small, dry, hard, one-seeded, indehiscent fruit.

Origin of achene

1
1835–45; <New Latin achaenium, equivalent to a-a-6 + Greek chain- (stem of chaínein to gape) + Latin -ium-ium

Other words from achene

  • a·che·ni·al [ey-kee-nee-uhl, uh-kee-], /eɪˈki ni əl, əˈki-/, adjective

Words Nearby achene

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How to use achene in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for achene

achene

akene

/ (əˈkiːn) /


noun
  1. a dry one-seeded indehiscent fruit with the seed distinct from the fruit wall. It may be smooth, as in the buttercup, or feathery, as in clematis

Origin of achene

1
C19: from New Latin achaenium that which does not yawn or open, from a- 1 + Greek khainein to yawn

Derived forms of achene

  • achenial or akenial, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for achene

achene

  1. A small, dry, one-seeded fruit in which the seed sits free inside the hollow fruit, attached only by the stem of the ovule. Achenes are indehiscent (they do not split open when ripe). The fruits of the sunflower and elm are achenes.

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