acanthus Hear it!

acanthus definition

acan·thus (ə kan′t̸həs)

noun pl. acanthuses -·thuses or acanthi -·thi′ (-t̸hī′, -t̸hē′)

  1. any of a genus (Acanthus) of thistlelike plants of the acanthus family with lobed, often spiny leaves and long spikes of white or colored flowers, found in the Mediterranean region
  2. Archit. a motif or conventional representation of the leaf of this plant, used esp. on the capitals of Corinthian columns

Etymology: ModL < L < Gr akanthos: see acantho-

adjective

designating a family (Acanthaceae, order Scrophulariales) of dicotyledonous plants, including bear's-breech

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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