acantho-

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

QUIZZES

HEED THE VOX POPULI, AND TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Test your memory on these verbal firecrackers from the week of June 29 to July 5!
Question 1 of 7
anchorite
a granular metamorphic rock.
a person who has retired to a solitary place for a life of religious seclusion.
a hobble or fetter for a horse or other animal.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT
Also especially before a vowel, acanth-.

Origin of acantho-

< Greek akantho-, combining form of ákantha thorn

Words nearby acantho-

acanthamoeba, acanthesthesia, acanthine, acanthion, acanthite, acantho-, acanthocephala, acanthocephalan, acanthocephaliasis, acanthocheilonema, acanthocyte
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for acantho-

acantho-

before a vowel acanth-

combining form

indicating a spine or thornacanthocephalan

Word Origin for acantho-

New Latin from Greek akanthos thorn plant, from akantha thorn
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

Medical definitions for acantho-

acantho-

pref.

Thorn; spine; spinous process:acanthocyte.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.