spinose

American  

[spahy-nohs, spahy-nohs] / ˈspaɪ noʊs, spaɪˈnoʊs /

adjective

1. full of spines; spiniferous; spinous.

---

spinose British  

/ spaɪˈnɒsɪtɪ, spaɪˈnəʊs, ˈspaɪnəʊs /

adjective

1. (esp of plants) bearing many spines

---

Other Word Forms

• nonspinose adjective
• nonspinosely adverb
• nonspinosity noun
• spinosely adverb
• spinosity noun
• subspinose adjective

Etymology

Origin of spinose

From the Latin word spīnōsus, dating back to 1650–60. See spine, -ose ¹

Example Sentences

Cryptic morphologies and elaborate spinose ornament have evolved in step with these predation pressures, the most extreme example being represented by the giant pholidomeleons.

From Scientific American • Apr. 1, 2013

About a week later the eggs hatch into small spinose caterpillars which begin feeding upon the leaves near by.

From Butterflies Worth Knowing by Weed, Clarence M.

The metathorax transversely and rather finely rugose, the truncation more strongly striated; the scutellum shining; the wings subhyaline, the nervures ferruginous; the tibiæ with scattered spines, the tarsi spinose.

From Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society - Vol. 3 Zoology by Various

Mandibles with four teeth; maxill� notched, with the lower part of edge nearly straight, prominent; anterior ramus of the second cirrus thicker than the posterior ramus; caudal appendages, uniarticulate, spinose.

From A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia With Figures of all the Species. by Darwin, Charles

Philippine Archipelago; Island of Bohol; parasitic on a spinose crab, found under a stone at low water; single specimen, in Mus.,

From A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia With Figures of all the Species. by Darwin, Charles