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acinus

American  
[as-uh-nuhs] / ˈæs ə nəs /

noun

plural

acini
  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 British  
/ ˈæsɪnəs, əˈsɪnɪk /

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

"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

Other Word Forms

  • acinar adjective
  • acinic adjective

Etymology

Origin of acinus

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Consisting of acini, or minute granular concretions; as, acinose or acinous glands.

From Project Gutenberg

If of several days' longer duration, purulent softening will be noticed in the centre of the acini; this gradually extends until each acinus is converted into a little sac of pus.

From Project Gutenberg

The acini of the large liver of Nautilus are compacted into a solid reddish-brown mass by a firm 690 membrane, as also is the case in the Dibranchiata.

From Project Gutenberg

The acini surrounded with a dense, cellular texture, paler than themselves; 2.

From Project Gutenberg

Gelatinous or interacinous adenoma, which consists in an enlargement of the acini by an accumulation of colloid material, and an increase in the interacinous tissue by a growth of round cells.

From Project Gutenberg