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acanthus
noun pl. acanthuses or acanthi
- 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
- Archit. a motif or conventional representation of the leaf of this plant, used esp. on the capitals of Corinthian columns
adjective
designating a family (Acanthaceae, order Scrophulariales) of dicotyledonous plants, including bear's-breech
See acanthus in American Heritage Dictionary 4
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