Aculeus (Noun)

Meaning ¹

A stiff sharp-pointed plant process.

Classification

Nouns denoting plants.

Hypernyms

• Enation

Hyponyms

• Prickle
• Thorn
• Spikelet
• Pricker
• Sticker

Meaning ²

A sharp-pointed process especially a sting of a hymenopterous insect.

Classification

Nouns denoting animals.

Examples

• The honey bee's aculeus is modified to form a barbed stinger that gets stuck in the skin of the target.
• The aculeus of the wasp is smooth and does not get stuck in the skin, allowing it to sting multiple times.
• The aculeus of certain ants is used for defense and can deliver a painful sting to predators.
• The aculeus of the scorpion is a modified tail segment that delivers a venomous sting to its victims.
• The aculeus of the yellow jacket is a sharp-pointed process that injects venom into the skin of its target.