spiculum

S1P3I1C3U1L1U1M3
/ˈspɪkjʊləm/

noun

A thrusting javelin used by Romans that replaced the pilum in the late 3rd century.

Similar
spiculaspicule
OriginLatin spīculum →
Scrabble 14
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Meanings

nounspiculum (plural spicula)

plural spicula

  1. A thrusting javelin used by Romans that replaced the pilum in the late 3rd century.
  2. A sharp, pointed crystal, especially of ice.

    Synonyms: spicula

  3. biologyA sharp, needle-like structure, especially those making up the skeleton of a sponge.
  4. astronomyA small radial emission of gas seen in the chromosphere and corona of the sun.

    Synonyms: spicule

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA sharp, pointed crystal, especially of ice.

Similar
spicula

nounA small radial emission of gas seen in the chromosphere and corona of the sun.

Similar
spicule

More synonyms by meaning

nounsmall pointed structure serving as a skeletal element in various marine and freshwater invertebrates e.g. sponges and corals

Similar
spicule
Broader
processoutgrowthappendage
Also see
spicule

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinspīculum“a little sharp point”
  2. Englishspiculum

From Latin spīculum (“a little sharp point”), from spīcum, alternative form of spīca (“point, spike”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

spiculum. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spiculum

MLA

“spiculum.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spiculum. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “spiculum,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spiculum.

Source: spiculum on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.