acantho-, acanth-, -acanth, -acanths, -acanthid, -acanthous
(Greek: used either as a prefix or as a suffix; pointed appendages; spine, spiny; thorn, thorny)
palaeacanthocephala (pl) (noun)
An order of Acanthocephala: The palaeacanthocephala consist of parasites feeding primarily on fishes, mammals, and aquatic birds, and have spines on the trunk and hooks positioned in long rows on the proboscis.
An illness affecting the cutaneous epitheliomas: While at the dermatologist's for a regular skin check-up, Dr. Snow diagnosed a case of paracanthosis on Jane's skin that had to be treated immediately.
An organism having five spines: In Jane's book, she wasn't sure if the pentacanth had its sharp thorns on its tail or on its toes.
Descriptive of an organism having five spines: The fantasy creature pictured in Susan's book was a pentacanthous with five long and sharply pointed needle-like thorns on its forehead, and looking extremely dangerous!
A member of the family Pleuracanthidæ; pleuracanthoid.
pollacanthous (adjective), more pollacanthous, most pollacanthous
A reference to a plant that flowers many times: Roses, for example, must be pollacanthous because they usually blossom several times during the summer months.
pollakanthic, pollacanthic (adjective), more pollakanthic, most pollakanthic; more pollacanthic, most pollacanthic
Referring to a plant that has flowers and fruit many times throughout its cycle of life: The pollacanthic strawberry plants Jenny had in her backyard had numerous flowering periods and an uncountable amount of fruit continuing throughout the year.
polyacanthous (adjective), more polyacanthous, most polyacanthous
Descriptive of a plant having many thorns: Tom had to be very careful when he picked the fruit off the polyacanthous boysenberry bush in his backyard because of the infinite number of big thick spines on the stems.
Concerning the fish of the genus Priacanthus, and the family Priacanthidæ: The tropical marine priacanthine has reddish scales and large eyes, and is usually called "bigeye".
Random excess motion and exertion that fulfills no intention: In an organic brain disease, stimulation sufficient to produce any response typically provokes purposeless hyperactivity in addition to the appropriate response.
Thorny-fire shrub of the genus Pyracantha: The pyracanth is a spiny evergreen plant found in southern Europe that bears clusters of white flowers and scarlet berries.
Fire thorn or a thorny evergreen bush of the genus Pyracantha and the family Rosaceae: The pyracantha, native to Europe and Asia, is usually cultivated for its bright orange or red fruit that are used for ornamental purposes.
tetracanthus (adjective) (not comparable)
Concerning an organism having four spines or thorns in groups of four: Susan found out that some fish are tetracanthus because they evidently have four needle-like projections on their bodies.
A gum extract obtained in a dried form from various Asiatic or East European species of plants: The tragacanth from a shrub or tree from the genus Astragalus is used in the arts and as an emulsifying agent and pill excipient in pharmacy.
A fish of the family Triacanthidæ: It was seemingly very time-consuming for Linda to find out more about the fish triacanthoids for her term paper.
