Definitions for acanthusəˈkæn θəs; -θaɪ
Random House Webster's College Dictionary
a•can•thusəˈkæn θəs; -θaɪ(n.)(pl.)-thus•es, -thi
any of several plants of the genus Acanthus, of the Mediterranean region, having spiny or toothed leaves and showy white or purplish flowers.
Category: Plants
an architectural ornament, as on a Corinthian capital, resembling the leaves of this plant.
Category: Architecture
Origin of acanthus:
1610–20; < NL, L < Gk ákanthos bear's-foot
a•can′thine-θɪn, -θaɪn(adj.)
Princeton's WordNet
acanthus(noun)
any plant of the genus Acanthus having large spiny leaves and spikes or white or purplish flowers; native to Mediterranean region but widely cultivated
Wiktionary
acanthus(Noun)
A member of the genus Acanthus of herbaceous prickly plants with toothed leaves, (family Acanthaceae, order Scrophulariales) found in the south of Europe, Asia Minor, and India.
acanthus(Noun)
An ornament resembling the foliage or leaves of Acanthus spinosus, and used in the capitals of the Corinthian and composite orders.
Origin: * First attested in 1667.
Webster Dictionary
Acanthus(noun)
a genus of herbaceous prickly plants, found in the south of Europe, Asia Minor, and India; bear's-breech
Acanthus(noun)
an ornament resembling the foliage or leaves of the acanthus (Acanthus spinosus); -- used in the capitals of the Corinthian and Composite orders
The Nuttall Encyclopedia
Acanthus
a leaf-like ornament on the capitals of the columns of certain orders of architecture.
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