acanthus (redirected from acanthuses)

a·can·thus  (-knths)

n. pl. a·can·thus·es or a·can·thi (-th)

1. Any of various perennial herbs or small shrubs of the genus Acanthus, native to the Mediterranean and having pinnately lobed basal leaves with spiny margins and showy spikes of white or purplish flowers. Also called bear's breech.

2. Architecture A design patterned after the leaves of one of these plants, used especially on the capitals of Corinthian columns.

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[New Latin Acanthus, genus name, from Greek akanthos, thorn plant, from akantha, thorn.]

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a·canthine (-thn, -thn) adj.

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acanthus

Noun

1. a plant with large spiny leaves and spikes of white or purplish flowers

2. a carved ornament based on the leaves of the acanthus plant [Greek akantha thorn]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

acanthus - any plant of the genus Acanthus having large spiny leaves and spikes or white or purplish flowers; native to Mediterranean region but widely cultivated herb, herbaceous plant - a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests genus Acanthus - bear's breeches Acanthus mollis, bear's breech, bear's breeches, sea holly - widely cultivated southern European acanthus with whitish purple-veined flowers