acicular

adjective

acic·​u·​lar ə-ˈsi-kyə-lər 

: shaped like a needle

acicular leaves

acicular crystals

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin aciculāris, from Late Latin acicula, acucula "small needle, small pin for a headdress" (from Latin acu-, stem of acus "needle" —going back to Indo-European *h₂eḱ-u- "pointed"— + -cula, diminutive suffix) + Latin -āris -ar — more at acute

First Known Use

1709, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

acicular

adjective

acic·​u·​lar ə-ˈsik-yə-lər 

: shaped like a needle

acicular crystals