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SPINESCENCE

 - 2 dictionary results

spi⋅nes⋅cent

  [spahy-nes-uhnt]
Use SPINESCENCE in a Sentence
–adjective
1. Botany.
a. becoming spinelike.
b. ending in a spine.
c. bearing spines.
2. Zoology. somewhat spinelike; coarse, as hair.
Origin:
1785–95; < LL spīnēscent- (s. of spīnēscēns, prp. of spīnēscere to grow thorny). See spine, -escent

Related forms:
spi⋅nes⋅cence, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To SPINESCENCE
spi·nes·cent   (spī-něs'ənt)   
adj.   Botany

  1. Having a spine or spines.

  2. Terminating in a spine.


[Late Latin spīnēscēns, spīnēscent-, present participle of spīnēscere, to become thorny, from Latin spīna, thorn.]
spi·nes'cence n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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