Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary
thesaurus
view recents

acicular

adjective
Save Word
acic·​u·​lar | \ ə-ˈsi-kyə-lər How to pronounce acicular (audio) \

Definition of acicular

: shaped like a needle acicular leaves acicular crystals

First Known Use of acicular

1709, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for acicular

borrowed from New Latin aciculāris, from Late Latin acicula, acucula "small needle, small pin for a headdress" (from Latin acu-, stem of acus "needle" —going back to Indo-European *h₂eḱ-u- "pointed"— + -cula, diminutive suffix) + Latin -āris -ar — more at acute

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about acicular

Time Traveler for acicular

Time Traveler

The first known use of acicular was in 1709

See more words from the same year

Statistics for acicular

Cite this Entry

“Acicular.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acicular. Accessed 17 Jan. 2021.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for acicular

acicular

adjective
acic·​u·​lar | \ ə-ˈsik-yə-lər How to pronounce acicular (audio) \

Medical Definition of acicular

: shaped like a needle acicular crystals

Comments on acicular

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

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

modicum

Listen to the pronunciation of modicum

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

Words of Snow and Ice Quiz

  • image1037863653
  • Which of the following refers to thin, bending ice, or to the act of running over such ice?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Typeshift

Anagram puzzles meet word search.

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