acantha

/əˈkænθə/
noun
  1. A spine or thorn, especially on a plant or animal.
    • Each acantha on the rose stem can cause a painful prick.
    • The cactus has sharp acanthae that protect it from animals.
    • The biologist examined the acantha under a microscope.
  2. In anatomy, a spinous process of a bone, such as the spine of the vertebra.
    • The acantha of the vertebra helps attach muscles and ligaments.
    • A fracture of the acantha can cause back pain.
    • The doctor pointed to the acantha on the X-ray image.
Synonyms
What does "acantha" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean