Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
actinal. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
actinal, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
actinal in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
actinal you have here. The definition of the word
actinal will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
actinal, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From Ancient Greek ἀκτίς, ἀκτῖν- (aktís, aktîn-, “ray”) + -al. The usage was coined by Louis Agassiz (See quotations below.).
Adjective
actinal
- (zoology) Pertaining to the side or surface around the mouth in an animal that has radial symmetry such as a starfish.
1857, Professor Louis Agassiz, Natural History of North America, Vol. IV, page 376:The so-called mouth is always placed at one of these poles, and from it radiate the most prominent organs, in consequence of which I have called this side of the body the oral or actinal area ...
- (zoology) Pertaining to the axis of rotational symmetry in radiate animals.
1861, John Timbs, Charles W. Vincent, James Mason, The Year-book of Facts in Science and Art, Simpkin, Marshall, and Co., page 214:[Professor Agassiz] gives the names of two axes of the animals; that around which the motion of the animal occurs is the actinal axis ...
Derived terms
See also
Anagrams