spinose

American  

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

adjective

1. full of spines; spiniferous; spinous.

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spinose British  

/ spaɪˈnɒsɪtɪ, spaɪˈnəʊs, ˈspaɪnəʊs /

adjective

1. (esp of plants) bearing many spines

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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

Leaves mostly rigid and more or less spinose.

From Project Gutenberg

Belonging to the order of fishes having spinose fins, as the perch.

From Project Gutenberg

Leaflets.—Seven to nine; glossy; ovate to oblong-lanceolate; one and one half to four inches long; acuminate; sinuately dentate, with numerous spinose teeth; the lowest pair distant from the stem.

From Project Gutenberg

The female heads are spinose with long pungent bracts, fall entire when ripe and are carried away by wind or sea, becoming finally anchored in the sand and falling to pieces.

From Project Gutenberg