Meanings
nounascus (plural asci)
plural asci
- biologyA sac-shaped cell present in ascomycete fungi; it is a reproductive cell in which meiosis and an additional cell division produce eight spores.
The one important character which distinguishes the Ascomycetes from all other fungi is the ascus (plural, asci). This is a sac-like structure in which ascospores are formed following karyogamy and meiosis.
1967, Constantine. J. Alexopoulos, Harold C. Bold, Algae and Fungi, page 101
Origin
- Ancient Greekἀσκός“a sac”
- New Latinascus
- Englishascus
From New Latin ascus, from Ancient Greek ἀσκός (askós, “a sac”). Doublet of askos.
More words from New Latin, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish itiökotelo
- itiökoteloa sac-shaped cell present in ascomycete fungi
French asque
- asquea sac-shaped cell present in ascomycete fungi
German Ascus
- Ascusa sac-shaped cell present in ascomycete fungi
Irish ascas
- ascasa sac-shaped cell present in ascomycete fungi
Latin ascus
- ascusa sac-shaped cell present in ascomycete fungi
Polish worek
- woreka sac-shaped cell present in ascomycete fungi
Portuguese asco
- ascoa sac-shaped cell present in ascomycete fungi
Romanian ască
- ascăa sac-shaped cell present in ascomycete fungi
Russian аск, сумка
- аск (ask)a sac-shaped cell present in ascomycete fungi
- сумка (sumka)a sac-shaped cell present in ascomycete fungi
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
APA
ascus. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ascus
MLA
“ascus.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ascus. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ascus,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ascus.
Source: ascus on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.