Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Covered with stiff, coarse hairs or bristles: Describes the surface texture of an animal or plant that is rough due to the presence of stiff, often prickly, hairs or bristles.

Usage

• The word "hispid" is a specialized biological or botanical term. It is used to describe the physical texture of surfaces, primarily in scientific descriptions of flora and fauna. It is not commonly used in everyday conversation.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The botanist noted the plant's hispid leaves, which felt rough to the touch.
  • Certain caterpillars have a hispid appearance due to their protective bristles.

Advanced Usage

• Descriptive Precision: In technical writing, "hispid" is used for precise morphological description, often contrasted with terms like "glabrous" (smooth, without hairs) or "pubescent" (covered with soft, short hairs).
  • The stem was distinctly hispid, unlike the glabrous petals.

Variants and Related Words

• Hispidity (n): The quality or state of being hispid.
  • The hispidity of the seed pod aids in dispersal by attaching to animal fur.

Synonyms

• Bristly: Covered with short, stiff hairs.
• Setose: Bristly or having bristles.
• Hirsute: Hairy, often in a shaggy or unkempt way (though "hirsute" can imply softer hairs than "hispid").

Antonyms

• Glabrous: Smooth, without hairs or bristles.
• Smooth: Having an even, regular surface; not rough.

Adjective

1. (of animals or plants) having stiff coarse hairs or bristles
   • plants with hispid stems