awn
/ɔ:l/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A slender, bristle-like appendage: A thin, stiff, hair-like projection found on the bracts or glumes of grasses and some other plants, such as cereals and grains.
Usage
- The word "awn" is a countable noun used primarily in botanical contexts to describe a specific morphological feature of plants, especially grasses.
- It is used to identify the part of a plant that can aid in seed dispersal or cause irritation.
Examples
- Noun:
- The barley's long awns can get caught in animal fur.
- Botanists study the awn's structure to understand grass evolution.
- Removing the awns from the wheat is part of the harvesting process.
Advanced Usage
- "Owned awn": This is not a standard phrase. The word "awn" is almost exclusively used in its literal botanical sense.
- "Awn length": A common measurement in agronomy and botany.
- Awn length is a key trait in breeding drought-resistant barley varieties.
Variants and Related Words
- Awned (adj): Having awns.
- The awned varieties of wheat are common in that region.
- Awnless (adj): Lacking awns.
- This cultivar was developed to be awnless for easier processing.
Synonyms
- Bristle: A short, stiff hair. (Note: "Bristle" is more general, while "awn" is specific to plant anatomy.)
- Beard: In botany, a synonym for awn, especially on grasses like barley and wheat.
- The beard on this wheat spike is very pronounced.
Antonyms
- Glabrous: Smooth, without hairs or bristles. (This is an antonym in the sense of describing a surface feature, not a direct opposite of the noun "awn".)
Related Phrases and Terms
- "Awn dispersal": Refers to the method by which seeds are spread using their awns.
- Awn dispersal is an effective mechanism for some grass species.
- "Owned lemma": In botany, the lemma is a bract, and it may be "awned," meaning it possesses an awn.
- The owned lemma distinguishes this species from its close relatives.
Noun
- slender bristlelike appendage found on the bracts of grasses