acinus

[ as-uh-nuhs ]

noun

, plural ac·i·ni [as, -, uh, -nahy].

1. Botany. one of the small drupelets or berries of an aggregate, baccate fruit, as the blackberry.
2. a berry, as a grape or currant.
3. Anatomy.
   1. a minute rounded lobule.
   2. the smallest secreting portion of a gland.

acinus

/ ˈæsɪnəs; əˈsɪnɪk /

noun

1. anatomy any of the terminal saclike portions of a compound gland
2. botany any of the small drupes that make up the fruit of the blackberry, raspberry, etc
3. obsolete.
   botany a collection of berries, such as a bunch of grapes

Derived Forms

• acinic, adjective

Other Words From

• ac·i·nar [as, -, uh, -ner, -nahr], a·cin·ic [uh, -, sin, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of acinus¹

1725–35; < Latin: grape, berry, seed of a berry

Word History and Origins

Origin of acinus¹

C18: New Latin, from Latin: grape, berry

Example Sentences

Consisting of acini, or minute granular concretions; as, acinose or acinous glands.

From Project Gutenberg

If of several days' longer duration, purulent softening will be noticed in the centre of the acini; this gradually extends until each acinus is converted into a little sac of pus.

From Project Gutenberg

The acini of the large liver of Nautilus are compacted into a solid reddish-brown mass by a firm 690 membrane, as also is the case in the Dibranchiata.

From Project Gutenberg

The acini surrounded with a dense, cellular texture, paler than themselves; 2.

From Project Gutenberg

Gelatinous or interacinous adenoma, which consists in an enlargement of the acini by an accumulation of colloid material, and an increase in the interacinous tissue by a growth of round cells.

From Project Gutenberg