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View synonyms for aril

aril

[ ar-il ]

noun

, Botany.
  1. a usually fleshy appendage or covering of certain seeds, as of the bittersweet, Celastrus scandens, or the nutmeg.


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
“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


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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Derived Forms

  • ˈarilˌlate, adjective
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Other Words From

  • aril·loid adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of aril1

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; anima
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Word History and Origins

Origin of aril1

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

By the end of Aril, the several armies seemed to be ready, and the general forward movement on Corinth began.

Seed vessel pyramidal, containing many seeds enveloped in an elastic aril by which they are ejected when the fruit opens.

Calyx not minute; pod colored, dehiscent; seeds enclosed in a pulpy aril.

Seeds many in several rows on the lateral placenta, with a fleshy lacerate aril on one side.

The pulp is of the nature of an aril, that is, an additional seed-coat.

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arikiarillate