echinus

e·chi·nus  (-kns)

n. pl. e·chi·ni (-n)

1. A sea urchin of the genus Echinus.

2. Architecture A convex molding just below the abacus of a Doric capital.

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[Latin echnus, sea urchin, from Greek ekhnos, sea urchin, hedgehog, from ekhis, adder, viper.]

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echinus [ɪˈkaɪnəs]

n pl -ni [-naɪ]

1. (Fine Arts & Visual Arts / Architecture) Architect an ovolo moulding between the shaft and the abacus of a Doric column

2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any of the sea urchins of the genus Echinus, such as E. esculentus (edible sea urchin) of the Mediterranean

[from Latin, from Greek ekhinos]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

echinus - ovolo molding between the shaft and the abacus of a Doric column ovolo, quarter round, thumb - a convex molding having a cross section in the form of a quarter of a circle or of an ellipse