Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Acanthodes

noun
Ac·​an·​tho·​des | \ -ˈthō(ˌ)dēz\

Definition of Acanthodes

: a genus of small slender possibly degenerate fishes having generalized toothless jaws and a single small dorsal fin and found in the Carboniferous and Permian formations

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

First Known Use of Acanthodes

1834, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for Acanthodes

New Latin, from Greek akanthōdēs thorny, spiny, from akanth- acanth- + -ōdēs -ode

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about Acanthodes

Statistics for Acanthodes

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for Acanthodes

The first known use of Acanthodes was in 1834

See more words from the same year

Comments on Acanthodes

What made you want to look up Acanthodes? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

demeanor

Listen to the pronounciation of demeanor

behavior toward others

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Words for Summer: A Quiz

  • a closeup of a sunflower
  • Which of the following words means “of or relating to summer”?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games