"spiny" meaning in English

See spiny in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Adjective

IPA: /ˈspaɪni/ Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-spiny.wav Forms: spinier [comparative], spiniest [superlative]
Rhymes: -aɪni Etymology: From spine + -y. Etymology templates: {{suffix|en|spine|y}} spine + -y Head templates: {{en-adj|er}} spiny (comparative spinier, superlative spiniest)
  1. Covered in spines or thorns. Synonyms (covered in spines): thorny, prickly Coordinate_terms: hispid, bristly, silky, smooth Translations (covered in prickles): бодлив (bodliv) (Bulgarian), ostnatý (Czech), bodlinatý (Czech), trnitý (Czech), piquant (French), कटीला (kaṭīlā) (Hindi), spinifer (Latin), pūtaratara (Maori), tuatete (Maori)
    Sense id: en-spiny-en-adj-3dhKJ4h0 Categories (other): English terms suffixed with -y Disambiguation of English terms suffixed with -y: 32 34 33 Disambiguation of 'covered in spines': 82 3 16 Disambiguation of 'covered in prickles': 74 7 19
  2. Troublesome; difficult or vexing. Synonyms (troublesome): thorny, prickly
    Sense id: en-spiny-en-adj-1Aauj5k0 Categories (other): English terms suffixed with -y Disambiguation of English terms suffixed with -y: 32 34 33 Disambiguation of 'troublesome': 0 100 0
  3. Like a spine in shape; slender.
    Sense id: en-spiny-en-adj-RxkuQlKo Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English terms suffixed with -y, Entries with translation boxes, Pages with 2 entries, Pages with entries, Terms with Bulgarian translations, Terms with Czech translations, Terms with French translations, Terms with Hindi translations, Terms with Latin translations, Terms with Maori translations Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 34 9 46 11 Disambiguation of English terms suffixed with -y: 32 34 33 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 33 19 48 Disambiguation of Pages with 2 entries: 34 7 48 3 3 3 3 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 34 7 48 3 3 3 3 Disambiguation of Terms with Bulgarian translations: 29 25 45 Disambiguation of Terms with Czech translations: 29 23 48 Disambiguation of Terms with French translations: 30 24 46 Disambiguation of Terms with Hindi translations: 26 22 52 Disambiguation of Terms with Latin translations: 29 22 49 Disambiguation of Terms with Maori translations: 27 23 49
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated

Noun

Forms: spinies [plural]
Head templates: {{en-noun}} spiny (plural spinies)
  1. Archaic form of spinney. Tags: alt-of, archaic Alternative form of: spinney
    Sense id: en-spiny-en-noun-Id4qYplV
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 2

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

{
  "derived": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "aspiny"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "medium spiny neuron"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "Neotropical spiny rat"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "Solomon Island spiny monitor"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spinily"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spininess"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spiny anteater"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spiny bamboo"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spiny broom"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spiny-cheeked honeyeater"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spiny-cheek sleeper"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spiny cocklebur"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spiny coriander"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spiny dogfish"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spiny eel"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spiny-headed worm"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spiny hopsage"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spiny lobster"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spiny mouse"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spiny murex"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spiny oyster"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spiny pocket mouse"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spiny projection neuron"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spiny rat"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spiny seahorse"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spiny shark"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spiny softshell turtle"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spiny spider crab"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spiny-tailed lizard"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "spiny tubeworm"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "subspiny"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "Texas spiny lizard"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": 1,
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    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From spine + -y.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "spinier",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spiniest",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    }
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  "head_templates": [
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      "args": {
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  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "32 34 33",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms suffixed with -y",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
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      ],
      "coordinate_terms": [
        {
          "word": "hispid"
        },
        {
          "word": "bristly"
        },
        {
          "word": "silky"
        },
        {
          "word": "smooth"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Covered in spines or thorns."
      ],
      "id": "en-spiny-en-adj-3dhKJ4h0",
      "links": [
        [
          "spines",
          "spine#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "thorn",
          "thorn"
        ]
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "_dis1": "82 3 16",
          "sense": "covered in spines",
          "word": "thorny"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "82 3 16",
          "sense": "covered in spines",
          "word": "prickly"
        }
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "74 7 19",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "lang_code": "bg",
          "roman": "bodliv",
          "sense": "covered in prickles",
          "word": "бодлив"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "74 7 19",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "lang_code": "cs",
          "sense": "covered in prickles",
          "word": "ostnatý"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "74 7 19",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "lang_code": "cs",
          "sense": "covered in prickles",
          "word": "bodlinatý"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "74 7 19",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "lang_code": "cs",
          "sense": "covered in prickles",
          "word": "trnitý"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "74 7 19",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "lang_code": "fr",
          "sense": "covered in prickles",
          "word": "piquant"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "74 7 19",
          "code": "hi",
          "lang": "Hindi",
          "lang_code": "hi",
          "roman": "kaṭīlā",
          "sense": "covered in prickles",
          "word": "कटीला"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "74 7 19",
          "code": "la",
          "lang": "Latin",
          "lang_code": "la",
          "sense": "covered in prickles",
          "word": "spinifer"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "74 7 19",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "lang_code": "mi",
          "sense": "covered in prickles",
          "word": "pūtaratara"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "74 7 19",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "lang_code": "mi",
          "sense": "covered in prickles",
          "word": "tuatete"
        }
      ]
    },
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          "ref": "1727, William Warburton, Critical and Philosophical Enquiry into the Causes of Miracles:",
          "text": "The spiney desarts of scholastic philosophy",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Troublesome; difficult or vexing."
      ],
      "id": "en-spiny-en-adj-1Aauj5k0",
      "links": [
        [
          "Troublesome",
          "troublesome"
        ],
        [
          "difficult",
          "difficult"
        ],
        [
          "vexing",
          "vexing"
        ]
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100 0",
          "sense": "troublesome",
          "word": "thorny"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100 0",
          "sense": "troublesome",
          "word": "prickly"
        }
      ]
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          "_dis": "34 9 46 11",
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          "source": "w+disamb"
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          "_dis": "32 34 33",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms suffixed with -y",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "33 19 48",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "34 7 48 3 3 3 3",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 2 entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
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        {
          "_dis": "34 7 48 3 3 3 3",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
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          "source": "w+disamb"
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          "_dis": "29 25 45",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "29 23 48",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Czech translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "30 24 46",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with French translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "26 22 52",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Hindi translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "29 22 49",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Latin translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
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          "_dis": "27 23 49",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Maori translations",
          "parents": [],
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          "ref": "[1611?], Homer, “The Third Booke of Homers Iliads”, in Geo[rge] Chapman, transl., The Iliads of Homer Prince of Poets. […], London: […] Nathaniell Butter, →OCLC, page 40:",
          "text": "And, as in well-growne woods, on trees, cold ſpinie Graſhoppers / Sit chirping, […]",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Like a spine in shape; slender."
      ],
      "id": "en-spiny-en-adj-RxkuQlKo"
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈspaɪni/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-spiny.wav",
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    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-aɪni"
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  "word": "spiny"
}

{
  "etymology_number": 2,
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "spinies",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "spiny (plural spinies)",
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  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "alt_of": [
        {
          "word": "spinney"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [],
      "glosses": [
        "Archaic form of spinney."
      ],
      "id": "en-spiny-en-noun-Id4qYplV",
      "links": [
        [
          "spinney",
          "spinney#English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "alt-of",
        "archaic"
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    }
  ],
  "word": "spiny"
}
{
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    "English adjectives",
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms suffixed with -y",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 2 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Rhymes:English/aɪni",
    "Rhymes:English/aɪni/2 syllables",
    "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
    "Terms with Czech translations",
    "Terms with French translations",
    "Terms with Hindi translations",
    "Terms with Latin translations",
    "Terms with Maori translations"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "aspiny"
    },
    {
      "word": "medium spiny neuron"
    },
    {
      "word": "Neotropical spiny rat"
    },
    {
      "word": "Solomon Island spiny monitor"
    },
    {
      "word": "spinily"
    },
    {
      "word": "spininess"
    },
    {
      "word": "spiny anteater"
    },
    {
      "word": "spiny bamboo"
    },
    {
      "word": "spiny broom"
    },
    {
      "word": "spiny-cheeked honeyeater"
    },
    {
      "word": "spiny-cheek sleeper"
    },
    {
      "word": "spiny cocklebur"
    },
    {
      "word": "spiny coriander"
    },
    {
      "word": "spiny dogfish"
    },
    {
      "word": "spiny eel"
    },
    {
      "word": "spiny-headed worm"
    },
    {
      "word": "spiny hopsage"
    },
    {
      "word": "spiny lobster"
    },
    {
      "word": "spiny mouse"
    },
    {
      "word": "spiny murex"
    },
    {
      "word": "spiny oyster"
    },
    {
      "word": "spiny pocket mouse"
    },
    {
      "word": "spiny projection neuron"
    },
    {
      "word": "spiny rat"
    },
    {
      "word": "spiny seahorse"
    },
    {
      "word": "spiny shark"
    },
    {
      "word": "spiny softshell turtle"
    },
    {
      "word": "spiny spider crab"
    },
    {
      "word": "spiny-tailed lizard"
    },
    {
      "word": "spiny tubeworm"
    },
    {
      "word": "subspiny"
    },
    {
      "word": "Texas spiny lizard"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": 1,
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        "2": "spine",
        "3": "y"
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      "expansion": "spine + -y",
      "name": "suffix"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From spine + -y.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "spinier",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spiniest",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
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      "args": {
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      "expansion": "spiny (comparative spinier, superlative spiniest)",
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  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "coordinate_terms": [
        {
          "word": "hispid"
        },
        {
          "word": "bristly"
        },
        {
          "word": "silky"
        },
        {
          "word": "smooth"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Covered in spines or thorns."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "spines",
          "spine#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "thorn",
          "thorn"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "Quotation templates to be cleaned"
      ],
      "examples": [
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          "bold_text_offsets": [
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              4,
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          "ref": "1727, William Warburton, Critical and Philosophical Enquiry into the Causes of Miracles:",
          "text": "The spiney desarts of scholastic philosophy",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Troublesome; difficult or vexing."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Troublesome",
          "troublesome"
        ],
        [
          "difficult",
          "difficult"
        ],
        [
          "vexing",
          "vexing"
        ]
      ]
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          "text": "And, as in well-growne woods, on trees, cold ſpinie Graſhoppers / Sit chirping, […]",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Like a spine in shape; slender."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
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      "ipa": "/ˈspaɪni/"
    },
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    },
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  "synonyms": [
    {
      "sense": "covered in spines",
      "word": "thorny"
    },
    {
      "sense": "covered in spines",
      "word": "prickly"
    },
    {
      "sense": "troublesome",
      "word": "thorny"
    },
    {
      "sense": "troublesome",
      "word": "prickly"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "lang_code": "bg",
      "roman": "bodliv",
      "sense": "covered in prickles",
      "word": "бодлив"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "lang_code": "cs",
      "sense": "covered in prickles",
      "word": "ostnatý"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "lang_code": "cs",
      "sense": "covered in prickles",
      "word": "bodlinatý"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "lang_code": "cs",
      "sense": "covered in prickles",
      "word": "trnitý"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "lang_code": "fr",
      "sense": "covered in prickles",
      "word": "piquant"
    },
    {
      "code": "hi",
      "lang": "Hindi",
      "lang_code": "hi",
      "roman": "kaṭīlā",
      "sense": "covered in prickles",
      "word": "कटीला"
    },
    {
      "code": "la",
      "lang": "Latin",
      "lang_code": "la",
      "sense": "covered in prickles",
      "word": "spinifer"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "lang_code": "mi",
      "sense": "covered in prickles",
      "word": "pūtaratara"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "lang_code": "mi",
      "sense": "covered in prickles",
      "word": "tuatete"
    }
  ],
  "word": "spiny"
}

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  "etymology_number": 2,
  "forms": [
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      "form": "spinies",
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  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "alt_of": [
        {
          "word": "spinney"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [
        "English archaic forms"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Archaic form of spinney."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "spinney",
          "spinney#English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "alt-of",
        "archaic"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "spiny"
}

Download raw JSONL data for spiny meaning in English (5.2kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2025-12-23 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2025-12-02 using wiktextract (6fdc867 and 9905b1f). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.