Showing results for "spicula"

• plural of spiculum.

spicula

American  

[spik-yuh-luh] / ˈspɪk jə lə /

noun

• spiculae
  plural

1. a spicule.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• spiculae
  plural

Etymology

Origin of spicula

1740–50; < New Latin spīcula, Medieval Latin, equivalent to Latin spīc ( a ) ear of grain + -ula -ule

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spicula spiculae

These spicula are of the same diameter throughout their length; they are easily detached, so that the object-glass of the microscope soon becomes scattered over with them.

From Volcanic Islands by Charles Darwin

A little above this, where the lime is less abundant, and the lava more compact, numerous little balls, composed of spicula of calcareous spar, radiating from common centres, occupy the interstices.

From Volcanic Islands by Charles Darwin

Some of the fibres are thickly covered with extremely minute spicula, occasionally aggregated into little tuffs; and hence they have a hairy appearance.

From Volcanic Islands by Charles Darwin

Nature 'publishes itself in creatures, reaching from particles and spicula, through transformation on transformation to the highest symmetries.

From Critical Miscellanies, Vol. 1, Essay 5, Emerson by John Morley

His varied and solid knowledge makes his style lustrous with points and shooting spicula of thought, and resembling one of those winter mornings when the air sparkles with crystals.

From Representative Men by Ralph Waldo Emerson

These spiculae, or darts, will remain unaltered on the glass for some months.

From The Illustrated London Reading Book by Various

The chief difference between the white and red fir is in the spiculae or leaves.

From The Lake of the Sky Lake Tahoe in the High Sierras of California and Nevada, its History, Indians, Discovery by Frémont, Legendary Lore, Various Namings, Physical Characteristics, Glacial Phenomena, Geology, Single Outlet, Automobile Routes, Historic Towns, Early Mining Excitements, Steamer Ride, Mineral Springs, Mountain and Lake Resorts, Trail and Camping Out Trips, Summer Residences, Fishing, Hunting, Flowers, Birds, Animals, Trees, and Chaparral, with a Full Account of the Tahoe National Forest, the Public Use of the Water of Lake Tahoe and Much Other Interesting Matter by George Wharton James

Having collected the venom carefully on a piece of glass, he examined it with a microscope, and found it to consist of sharp, saline spiculae, of a reticular appearance, extremely minute.

From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 20, No. 578, December 1, 1832 by Various

It publishes itself in creatures, reaching from particles and spiculae through transformation on transformation to the highest symmetries, arriving at consummate results without a shock or a leap.

From Essays — Second Series by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Glance at these then fringed all round with needles and spiculae inches long; the leaf itself is a shimmering green, dusted over with a frosty down.

From Kenneth McAlpine A Tale of Mountain, Moorland and Sea by Gordon Stables