acro-, acr-

A tumor of the distal dermal segment of a sweat gland: Acrospiroma is a cutaneous ailment that appears mainly in women and is a kind of benign adnexal neoplasm linked to poromo, a benign skin tumor.

The very small unit in fungi: An acrospore is usually unicellular and appears at the extremity of the cell that propagates at the tip of a fungal threadlike filament.

In pathology, painful inflammation of the bones of the hands and feet: An acrostealgia refers to the tender and swelling inflammation of a apophysis, which is a bony tumor.

1. A number of lines of writing, especially a poem or word puzzle, in which particular letters, e.g., the first in each line, spell a word or phrase: An acrostic is a short composition in which the initial letters of the lines, taken in order, spell a word, phrase, or sentence. Sometimes the last or middle letters of the lines, or all of them, are similarly arranged to spell words, etc., whence a distinction of single, double, or triple acrostics.

A verse or arrangement of words in which certain letters in each line, such as the first or last when taken in order, spell out a word, motto, etc.
2. A Hebrew poem in which the consecutive lines or verses begin with the successive letters of the alphabet; The twelve of the Psalms are considered to be acrostic. The Psalm cxix. is thought to be the best example.

Pertaining to a poem written in a special way using the initial letters of the lines: Mrs. Smart explained to her English class that they were to compose a poem in an acrostic style, in which certain letters, normally the first in each line, form a name, a message or a motto when read in succession.

Descriptive of certain bristles situated in the highest rank or row of particular flies: Mr. Thompson, the biology teacher, referred to specific hairs on the mesonotum of muscoid flies as being acrostichal.

Relating to the style of an acrostic: The poem that Jane composed at home turned out to be an acrostichic one, which her teacher praised in class the next day.

In botany, regarding the family Polypodiaceae of the genus of Acrostichum: All of the tropical acrostichoid ferns have the sporangia coating all on the underside of the fronds.

The art of composing poems in which the lines begin with letters of the alphabet and form a word, motto, or saying: Nigel was very talented in writing poems and was interested in the technique of acrosticism where the first, middle , or the final letters of a line spell a word or phrase.

A paraphilia or abnormal sexual deviation: In the textbook Rose was reading, it stated that acrostomorphilia related to objects that were not of a sexual nature, but had pathological characteristics.

In genetics, a pairing activity of homologous chromosomes: Acrosyndesis relates to meiosis, or cell division, that involves the terminal portions of the chromosomes.

Among Ecclesiastical writers, the end of a verse or psalm: An acroteleutic can be something added to a verse and to be sung as a response by the people in a church service.

A flat pedestal on which an architectural ornament is placed; plinth: Decorative figures were mounted on acroters at the apex or at the corner of the pediment of a building in the classical style.

Relating to an acroterium: The acroterial ornaments and sculptures Jack viewed on the some of the buildings on his visit to Greece were exceptionally well preserved.

In old surgery, the amputation of an extremity of the body: The antiquated term acroteriasm was used for the process of cutting off a leg or arm of a person's body.