acinus

[ as-uh-nuhs ]

noun

, plural ac·i·ni [as, -, uh, -nahy].

1. Botany. one of the small drupelets or berries of an aggregate, baccate fruit, as the blackberry.
2. a berry, as a grape or currant.
3. Anatomy.
   1. a minute rounded lobule.
   2. the smallest secreting portion of a gland.

acinus

/ əˈsɪnɪk; ˈæsɪnəs /

noun

1. anatomy any of the terminal saclike portions of a compound gland
2. botany any of the small drupes that make up the fruit of the blackberry, raspberry, etc
3. obsolete.
   botany a collection of berries, such as a bunch of grapes

Derived Forms

• acinic, adjective

Other Words From

• ac·i·nar [as, -, uh, -ner, -nahr], a·cin·ic [uh, -, sin, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of acinus¹

1725–35; < Latin: grape, berry, seed of a berry

Word History and Origins

Origin of acinus¹

C18: New Latin, from Latin: grape, berry