spinescent

American  

[spahy-nes-uhnt] / spaɪˈnɛs ənt /

adjective

1. Botany.

   1. becoming spinelike.

   2. ending in a spine.

   3. bearing spines.

2. Zoology. somewhat spinelike; coarse, as hair.

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spinescent British  

/ spaɪˈnɛsənt /

adjective

1. having or resembling a spine or spines

2. becoming spiny

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Other Word Forms

• spinescence noun

Etymology

Origin of spinescent

First recorded in 1785–95, spinescent is from the Late Latin word spīnēscent- (stem of spīnēscēns, present participle of spīnēscere to grow thorny). See spine, -escent

Example Sentences

Leaves with 4 to 6 pairs of oval-oblong, mucronate-pointed, hairy leaflets; petioles unarmed; stipules spinescent.

From Project Gutenberg

Glabrous, somewhat spinescent, 5–10° high; leaves thin, oblong-ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate at both ends, often serrulate; drupe elongated-oblong, usually pointed.—Wet river banks, S. W.

From Project Gutenberg

Trees or shrubs three to ten feet high, with ash-gray bark and branchlets occasionally spinescent.

From Project Gutenberg

Resembles the first species somewhat in habit, size, and the spinescent capillitium, but the resemblance is superficial only.

From Project Gutenberg

Characters of Dipsacus, but the green leaves of the involucre and involucels not rigid nor spinescent.

From Project Gutenberg