raphides
Americanplural noun
Etymology
Origin of raphides
1835–45; < New Latin < Greek rhaphídes, plural of rhaphís needle
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.
These experiments show conclusively that the acridity of the Indian turnip and calla is due to the raphides of calcium oxalate only.
From Scientific American Supplement, No. 829, November 21, 1891 by Various
It was thought by some that the raphides in the different plants might vary in chemical composition, and thus the difference in their action be accounted for.
From Scientific American Supplement, No. 829, November 21, 1891 by Various
This opinion was opposed by Prof. Burrill and other eminent botanists, who claimed that other plants, as the fuchsia, are not at all acrid, although they contain raphides as plentifully as the Indian turnip.
From Scientific American Supplement, No. 829, November 21, 1891 by Various
It was now easy to explain why certain plants whose cells were crowded with raphides were bland to the taste, while other plants with the same crystals were extremely acrid.
From Popular Science Monthly Oct, Nov, Dec, 1915 — Volume 86 by Anonymous
Crystals, called raphides, in the wood cells, take the edges off tools used in working locust lumber.
From Trees Worth Knowing by Rogers, Julia Ellen
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.
