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echinus

Syllabification: (e·chi·nus)
Pronunciation: /iˈkīnəs/

Definition of echinus

noun (plural echini /-nī/)

  • 1 Zoology a sea urchin.
    • Genus Echinus, class Echinoidea: several species, including the common European edible sea urchin (E. esculentus)
  • 2 Architecture a rounded molding below an abacus on a Doric or Ionic capital.

Origin:

late Middle English: via Latin from Greek ekhinos 'hedgehog, sea urchin'

echinus in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of echinus in the British & World English dictionary

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