ascidium
|a-sci-di-um|
🇺🇸
/əˈsɪdiəm/
🇬🇧
/əˈsɪdɪəm/
small bag; sac
Etymology
'ascidium' originates from Neo-Latin, ultimately from Greek 'askidion', where 'askos' meant 'bag' and the diminutive suffix '-idion' meant 'little'.
'ascidium' derived from Greek 'askidion' → adopted into Neo-Latin as 'ascidium' → entered scientific English with the same form 'ascidium'.
Initially it meant 'little bag'; over time it came to be used specifically for bag- or sac-like biological structures and as a name in taxonomy for certain tunicates or genera.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a small sac- or pouch-shaped organ or structure (used in botany and morphology).
The pitcher of the carnivorous plant is essentially an ascidium that traps insects.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a tunicate or sea-squirt (historical/biological usage; plural ascidia).
Marine biologists catalogued several ascidium specimens attached to the kelp.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/26 16:20