acinus

noun

ac·​i·​nus ˈa-sə-nəs How to pronounce acinus (audio)
plural acini ˈa-sə-ˌnī How to pronounce acinus (audio)
: any of the small sacs terminating the ducts of some exocrine glands and lined with secretory cells
acinous adjective

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin (in the phrase glandulosi acini,) literally, "glandular berries," used by Marcello malpighi, going back to Latin, "berry, grape, berry or grape seed," probably of pre-Latin substratal origin

First Known Use

circa 1751, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of acinus was circa 1751

Dictionary Entries Near acinus

Cite this Entry

“Acinus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acinus. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

acinus

noun
plural acini -ˌnī How to pronounce acinus (audio)
: any of the small sacs or alveoli that terminate the ducts of some exocrine glands and are lined with secretory cells

More from Merriam-Webster on acinus

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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