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Synonyms

spinous

American  
[spahy-nuhs] / ˈspaɪ nəs /

adjective

  1. covered with or having spines; thorny, as a plant.

  2. armed with or bearing sharp-pointed processes, as an animal.

  3. spinelike.


spinous British  
/ ˈspaɪnəs /

adjective

  1. resembling a spine or thorn

    the spinous process of a bone

  2. having spines or spiny projections

  3. another word for spinose

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • interspinous adjective
  • multispinous adjective
  • postspinous adjective
  • spinousness noun
  • subspinous adjective

Etymology

Origin of spinous

1630–40; < Latin spīnōsus; see spine, -ous

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The nuchal ligament is attached to the cervical spinous processes and extends upward and posteriorly to attach to the midline base of the skull, out to the external occipital protuberance.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

These muscles bring together the spinous and transverse processes of each consecutive vertebra.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

On the posterior sacrum, the median sacral crest is derived from the fused spinous processes, and the lateral sacral crest results from the fused transverse processes.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The supraspinous ligament is located on the posterior side, where it interconnects the thoracic and lumbar spinous processes.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The most marked characteristic of the dorsal vertebræ is furnished by the spinous processes.

From Artistic Anatomy of Animals by Cuyer, ?douard