n.
Pronunciation: ' sp ī n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, thorn, spinal column, from Latin spina; perhaps akin to Latin spica ear of grain
Date: 15th century
1 a : SPINAL COLUMN b : something resembling a spinal column or constituting a central axis or chief support c : the part of a book to which the pages are attached and on the cover of which usually appear the title and author's and publisher's names
2 : a stiff pointed plant process especially : one that is a modified leaf or leaf part
3 : a sharp rigid process on an animal: as a : SPICULE b : a stiff unsegmented fin ray of a fish c : a pointed prominence on a bone
– spined \ ' sp ī nd \ adjective
– spine · like \ - ˌ l ī k \ adjective