Aculei

Pronunciation: /ˈækjʊli/

Definitions of aculei

noun a plural form of aculeus, which refers to a small, sharp, needle-like structure or spine found on certain animals such as insects or plants

Example Sentences

A1 Bees have aculei on their stingers for protection.

A2 Porcupines use their aculei to defend themselves from predators.

B1 The aculei of a cactus can be painful if touched.

B2 Scientists study the structure and function of aculei in various species.

C1 The aculei of certain marine animals are used for defense and capturing prey.

C2 Understanding the evolutionary development of aculei can provide insights into species survival strategies.

Examples of aculei in a Sentence

formal The aculei on the cactus plant serve as a defense mechanism against herbivores.

informal Ouch! I accidentally touched one of the aculei on the cactus.

slang I hate it when I get pricked by those dang aculei on the succulents.

figurative Her sharp words were like aculei, piercing through his defenses.

Grammatical Forms of aculei

• plural: aculei
• present tense: aculei
• future tense: will aculei
• perfect tense: has aculei
• continuous tense: is aculei
• singular: aculeus
• infinitive: to aculei
• gerund: aculeing
• participle: aculeied

Origin and Evolution of aculei

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'aculei' originates from Latin.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in Latin to refer to sharp points or spines, the word 'aculei' has evolved to be used in English to describe similar sharp projections or points, often in reference to plants or animals.