arilliform
|a-rill-i-form|
🇺🇸
/ˈærɪlˌfɔrm/
🇬🇧
/ˈærɪlˌfɔːm/
aril-shaped
Etymology
'arilliform' originates from New Latin, specifically the combining of 'arill-' from Medieval Latin 'arillus' (meaning 'a loose seed-covering') and the suffix '-form' from Latin 'forma' meaning 'shape'.
'arilliform' was formed by joining the element 'arill-' (from Medieval Latin 'arillus', which became the English 'aril') with the Latin-derived English suffix '-form'; thus 'arillus' → 'aril' + '-form' → 'arilliform'.
Initially it referred specifically to structures resembling an 'aril'; over time it has remained a technical botanical adjective meaning 'aril-like'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
shaped like or resembling an aril (a specialized outgrowth from a seed, often forming a fleshy covering).
The plant's seeds are enclosed in arilliform structures that attract birds.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/14 06:36