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spicule
[ spik-yool ]
noun
- a small or minute, slender, sharp-pointed body or part; a small, needlelike crystal, process, or the like.
- Zoology. one of the small, hard, calcareous or siliceous bodies that serve as the skeletal elements of various marine and freshwater invertebrates.
- Astronomy. a jet of gas several hundred miles in diameter rising from the sun's surface to heights of 3,000 to 6,000 miles (4,800 to 9,600 km).
spicule
/ ˈspɪkjuːl; -lɪt; ˈspɪkjʊˌleɪt /
noun
- Also calledspiculum a small slender pointed structure or crystal, esp any of the calcareous or siliceous elements of the skeleton of sponges, corals, etc
- astronomy a spiked ejection of hot gas occurring over 5000 kilometres above the sun's surface (in its atmosphere) and having a diameter of about 1000 kilometres
spicule
/ spĭk′yo̅o̅l /
- A needlelike structure or part, such as one of the mineral structures supporting the soft tissue of certain invertebrates, especially sponges.
- Any of numerous short-lived vertical jets of hot gas rising from the solar chromosphere and extending into the corona. Spicules, which only last for about five to ten minutes, are usually several hundred kilometers wide and several thousand kilometers high.
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Derived Forms
- spiculate, adjective
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of spicule1
C18: from Latin: spiculum
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Example Sentences
The spores soon become free, but the spicule often still adheres to them; but they are not attached to the intermingled filaments.
From Project Gutenberg
Spiraster, spī-ras′tėr, n. in sponges, a short curved axial rod-like spicule with thick spines.
From Project Gutenberg
Spic′ūlum, a spicule; Spike′bill, a merganser, a sawbill: the marbled godwit.
From Project Gutenberg
The contents may be clear yellow serum or watery pus; sometimes a small spicule of bone is discharged.
From Project Gutenberg
The spicule thus resembles a little trumpet resting on its mouth.
From Project Gutenberg
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