noun a combining form meaning “spine,” “thorn,” “spiny,” used in the formation of compound words: acanthocephalan.
In botany, acantho- is used to describe plants or plant parts that are spiny or prickly, such as acanthophylls (spiny leaf structures) or acanthaceae (spiny plants in the acanthus family).
Acantho- is a prefix that is commonly used in biology to refer to spines or spiky structures, such as acanthocytes (spiky red blood cells) or acanthodians (spiny-finned fish).
Within zoology, acantho- is often used to describe spiny or prickly structures on animals, such as acanthocephalans (spiny-headed worms) or acanthocephalans (spiny-headed parasites).
In the field of literature, 'acantho-' may be used to describe a character or creature with spiky or thorny features, adding a sense of danger or foreboding.
Biologists may use 'acantho-' as a prefix in the naming of species or structures that have spiny or thorn-like characteristics, such as 'acanthocyte' for a type of red blood cell.
Botanists may use 'acantho-' to describe plants with spiky leaves or stems, such as 'acanthus' for a genus of plants known for their spiny leaves.