spinose

[spahy-nohs, spahy-nohs]

adjective

1. full of spines; spiniferous; spinous.

spinose

/ spaɪˈnɒsɪtɪ, spaɪˈnəʊs, ˈspaɪnəʊs /

adjective

1. (esp of plants) bearing many spines

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of spinose¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of spinose¹

C17: from Latin spīnōsus prickly, from spīna a thorn

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.

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Leaves mostly rigid and more or less spinose.

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

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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.

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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.

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