Spicule

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Spicule \Spic"ule\, n. [L. spiculum a little point, a dart.]
     1. A minute, slender granule, or point.
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     2. (Bot.) Same as {Spicula}.
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     3. (Zool.) Any small calcareous or siliceous body found in
        the tissues of various invertebrate animals, especially in
        sponges and in most Alcyonaria.
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     Note: Spicules vary exceedingly in size and shape, and some
           of those found in siliceous sponges are very complex in
           structure and elegant in form. They are of great use in
           classification.
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                 Description of the Illustration:
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                 a Acerate; b Tricurvate, or Bowshaped; c d
                 Hamate; e Broomshaped; f Scepterellate; g
                 Spinispirulate; h Inequi-anchorate; i Sexradiate;
                 j A Trichite Sheaf; k Six-rayed Capitate; l
                 Rosette of Esperia; m Equi-anchorate.
           [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  spicule
       n : small pointed structure serving as a skeletal element in
           various marine and freshwater invertebrates e.g. sponges
           and corals [syn: {spiculum}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  21 Moby Thesaurus words for "spicule":
     bramble, brier, bristle, burr, cactus, catchweed, cleavers,
     goose grass, needle, nettle, pine needle, prickle, quill, spiculum,
     spike, spikelet, spine, sticker, thistle, thorn, yucca