View synonyms for aril

aril

[ ar-il ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Botany.

a usually fleshy appendage or covering of certain seeds, as of the bittersweet, Celastrus scandens, or the nutmeg.

aril

/ ˈærɪl /

noun

an appendage on certain seeds, such as those of the yew and nutmeg, developed from or near the funicle of the ovule and often brightly coloured and fleshy

aril

/ ăr′əl /

A fleshy seed cover which arises from the funiculus (the stalk of the ovule). Arils, such the red berry-like arils of the yew, are often brightly colored to attract animals who eat them and disperse the seeds. The spice mace is the aril of the nutmeg seed.

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Derived Forms

ˈarilˌlate, adjective

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Other Words From

aril·loid adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of aril¹

1785–95; < New Latin arillus; Medieval Latin: grape seed, probably erroneously for armillus, with same sense; compare Upper Italian dialect armella, arma kernel, pit of a fruit, Italian animella edible insides of an animal < Latin anima literally, spirit (hence, the insides of a thing), with -illa diminutive suffix; anima

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Word History and Origins

Origin of aril¹

C18: from New Latin arillus, from Medieval Latin arilli raisins, pips of grapes

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