acinus

[ as-uh-nuhs ]

noun,plural ac·i·ni [as-uh-nahy]. /ˈæs əˌnaɪ/.
  1. Botany. one of the small drupelets or berries of an aggregate, baccate fruit, as the blackberry.

  2. a berry, as a grape or currant.

  1. Anatomy.

    • a minute rounded lobule.

    • the smallest secreting portion of a gland.

Origin of acinus

1
1725–35; <Latin: grape, berry, seed of a berry

Other words from acinus

  • ac·i·nar [as-uh-ner, -nahr], /ˈæs ə nər, -ˌnɑr/, a·cin·ic [uh-sin-ik], /əˈsɪn ɪk/, adjective

Words Nearby acinus

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for acinus

acinus

/ (ˈæsɪnəs) /


nounplural -ni (-ˌnaɪ)
  1. anatomy any of the terminal saclike portions of a compound gland

  2. botany any of the small drupes that make up the fruit of the blackberry, raspberry, etc

  1. botany obsolete a collection of berries, such as a bunch of grapes

Origin of acinus

1
C18: New Latin, from Latin: grape, berry

Derived forms of acinus

  • acinic (əˈsɪnɪk), acinous or acinose, adjective

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