acanthus
Americannoun
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any of several plants of the genus Acanthus, of the Mediterranean region, having spiny or toothed leaves and showy, white or purplish flowers.
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an architectural ornament, as in the Corinthian capital, resembling the leaves of this plant.
noun
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any shrub or herbaceous plant of the genus Acanthus, native to the Mediterranean region but widely cultivated as ornamental plants, having large spiny leaves and spikes of white or purplish flowers: family Acanthaceae See also bear's-breech
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a carved ornament based on the leaves of the acanthus plant, esp as used on the capital of a Corinthian column
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Derived Forms
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Nouns
Etymology
Origin of acanthus
1610–20; < New Latin, Latin < Greek ákanthos bear's-foot
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.
See Examples For:
The door of 10 Downing Street was copied from the original and is enclosed within a composite fibreglass painted architrave "flanked by scrolled acanthus leaf corbels" and surrounded by black-painted iron railings.
From BBC ● Nov. 20, 2023
Wiley’s lithe dandy stands amid a lavish network of royal blue acanthus leaves, classical symbol of immortality, and vivid orange poppies, modern British token of remembrance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 7, 2021
The base of the sculpture is decorated with a four-petalled flower and interwoven acanthus leaves.
From The Guardian ● Jun. 16, 2020
Hillsides of unruly acanthus — nature's template for Corinthian columns — precede the Domus Augustana.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 11, 2019
Doric columns are the strongest and simplest, Corinthian ones are the lightest and most ornate, adorned with rows of acanthus leaves giving rise to graceful volutes and helices.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
On a higher level grow broad-leaved acanthi and wild artichokes, and thick festoons of cactus hang down from the top of the rock and shade the entrances to the grottoes.
From Castles and Cave Dwellings of Europe by Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
