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aculeus

American

[uh-kyoo-lee-uhs] / əˈkyu li əs /

noun

plural

aculei

Also the modified ovipositor or sting of certain hymenopterous insects.
prickle.

aculeus British

/ əˈkjuːlɪəs /

noun

a prickle or spine, such as the thorn of a rose
a sting or ovipositor

"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

Etymology

Origin of aculeus

1820–30; < Latin: sting, barb, equivalent to acu ( s ) needle + -leus noun suffix

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.

Page 45 'with a long & strong aculeus in the tayle conceuud of' 'conceuud' is an odd spelling.

From Notes and Letters on the Natural History of Norfolk More Especially on the Birds and Fishes by Browne, Thomas, Sir

Take also the case of the well-known Latin epigram: Omne epigramma sit instar apis: sit aculeus illi; Sint sua mella; sit et corporis exigui.

From Political and Literary essays, 1908-1913 by Baring, Evelyn

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023