a·can·thus
(ə-kăn′thəs)n. pl. a·can·thus·es or a·can·thi (-thī′)
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.
2. Architecture A design patterned after the leaves of one of these plants, used especially on the capitals of Corinthian columns.
[New Latin Acanthus, genus name, from Greek akanthos, thorn plant, from akantha, thorn.]
a·can′thine (-thĭn, -thīn) adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
acanthus
(əˈkænθəs) (əˈkænθ) oracanth
n, pl -thuses or -thi (-θaɪ)
1. (Plants) any shrub or herbaceous plant of the genus Acanthus, native to the Mediterranean region but widely cultivated as ornamental plants, having large spiny leaves and spikes of white or purplish flowers: family Acanthaceae. See also bear's-breech
2. (Architecture) a carved ornament based on the leaves of the acanthus plant, esp as used on the capital of a Corinthian column
[C17: New Latin, from Greek akanthos, from akantha thorn, spine]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
a•can•thus
(əˈkæn θəs)n., pl. -thus•es, -thi (-θaɪ)
1. any of several plants of the genus Acanthus, of the Mediterranean region, having spiny or toothed leaves and showy white or purplish flowers.
2. an architectural ornament, as on a Corinthian capital, resembling the leaves of this plant.
[1610–20; < New Latin, Latin < Greek ákanthos bear's-foot]
a•can′thine (-θɪn, -θaɪn) adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| 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 cultivatedherb, 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 |
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Translations
akantus
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