spicule

[ spik-yool ]

noun

1. a small or minute, slender, sharp-pointed body or part; a small, needlelike crystal, process, or the like.
2. Zoology. one of the small, hard, calcareous or siliceous bodies that serve as the skeletal elements of various marine and freshwater invertebrates.
3. Astronomy. a jet of gas several hundred miles in diameter rising from the sun's surface to heights of 3,000 to 6,000 miles (4,800 to 9,600 km).

spicule

/ -lɪt; ˈspɪkjʊˌleɪt; ˈspɪkjuːl /

noun

1. Also calledspiculum a small slender pointed structure or crystal, esp any of the calcareous or siliceous elements of the skeleton of sponges, corals, etc
2. astronomy a spiked ejection of hot gas occurring over 5000 kilometres above the sun's surface (in its atmosphere) and having a diameter of about 1000 kilometres

spicule

/ spĭk′yo̅o̅l /

1. A needlelike structure or part, such as one of the mineral structures supporting the soft tissue of certain invertebrates, especially sponges.
2. Any of numerous short-lived vertical jets of hot gas rising from the solar chromosphere and extending into the corona. Spicules, which only last for about five to ten minutes, are usually several hundred kilometers wide and several thousand kilometers high.

Derived Forms

• spiculate, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spicule¹

First recorded in 1775–85; from Latin spīculum “spearhead, arrowhead, bee stinger,” equivalent to spīc(a) “ear of grain” + -ulum diminutive suffix; spica, -ule

Word History and Origins

Origin of spicule¹

C18: from Latin: spiculum

Example Sentences

Skeptics point to the lack of mineralized skeletal parts, known as spicules, that are typical features of sea sponges, and the fact that many non­animal organisms can make similar tubes.

From Science News

Although some sponges have an internal skeleton made of microscopic mineralized rods called spicules, no convincing spicules have been found in rocks dating from the interval of hidden early animal evolution.

From Singularity Hub 

Turner argues that many modern sponges don’t have spicules and that the newly described fossils may be similar.

From Science News

The spores soon become free, but the spicule often still adheres to them; but they are not attached to the intermingled filaments.

From Project Gutenberg

Spiraster, spī-ras′tėr, n. in sponges, a short curved axial rod-like spicule with thick spines.

From Project Gutenberg

Spic′ūlum, a spicule; Spike′bill, a merganser, a sawbill: the marbled godwit.

From Project Gutenberg

The contents may be clear yellow serum or watery pus; sometimes a small spicule of bone is discharged.

From Project Gutenberg

The spicule thus resembles a little trumpet resting on its mouth.

From Project Gutenberg