aril

[ ar-il ]
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nounBotany.
  1. a usually fleshy appendage or covering of certain seeds, as of the bittersweet, Celastrus scandens, or the nutmeg.

Origin of aril

1
1785–95; <New Latin arillus;Medieval Latin: grape seed, probably erroneously for armillus, with same sense; compare Upper Italian dialect armella, arma kernel, pit of a fruit, Italian animella edible insides of an animal <Latin anima literally, spirit (hence, the insides of a thing), with -illa diminutive suffix; see anima

Other words from aril

  • ar·il·loid, adjective

Words Nearby aril

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How to use aril in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for aril

aril

/ (ˈærɪl) /


noun
  1. an appendage on certain seeds, such as those of the yew and nutmeg, developed from or near the funicle of the ovule and often brightly coloured and fleshy

Origin of aril

1
C18: from New Latin arillus, from Medieval Latin arilli raisins, pips of grapes

Derived forms of aril

  • arillate, 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 aril

aril

[ ărəl ]


  1. A fleshy seed cover which arises from the funiculus (the stalk of the ovule). Arils, such the red berry-like arils of the yew, are often brightly colored to attract animals who eat them and disperse the seeds. The spice mace is the aril of the nutmeg seed.

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