achene

noun

ə-ˈkēn 

: a small dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit (as of a sunflower) developing from a simple ovary and usually having a thin pericarp attached to the seed at only one point

Examples of achene in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At the base of each twisty tail is an achene, or tiny fruit. —Robert Llewellyn and Teri Dunn Chace, Discover Magazine, 14 Sep. 2015

Think of the seeds (achenes) on the outside of a berry. —Ellen Nibali, baltimoresun.com, 27 June 2019

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French achène, akène, borrowed from New Latin achena, from a- a- entry 2 + -chena, feminine noun derivative from the stem of Greek chaínein "to yawn, gape" — more at yawn entry 1

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

achene

noun

ə-ˈkēn 

: a small dry one-seeded fruit (as of the sunflower) that ripens without bursting open

achenial

ə-ˈkē-nē-əl

adjective