[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/spiny/)

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# spiny

adjective (spiny, spinier, spiniest)

«spiny» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

Spiny means covered with spines — sharp, stiff points like thorns or prickles. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spiny/#m1)

### In the lessons

In science lessons on adaptations, spiny animals (hedgehogs, porcupines, echidnas, sea urchins, spiny lobsters) and spiny plants (cactuses, holly) use spines for protection from predators. The spiny anteater is another name for the echidna of Australia and New Guinea. Safety: do not touch spiny sea creatures on the beach.

### Examples

- A hedgehog has a spiny back. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spiny/#x1)
- The echidna, or spiny anteater, lives in Australia. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spiny/#x2)
- Cactuses have spiny stems to stop animals eating them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spiny/#x3)
- Don't step on that spiny sea urchin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spiny/#x4)
- The spiny fish puffed itself up. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spiny/#x5)
- Holly leaves are spiny at the edges. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spiny/#x6)
- Spiny lobsters have no big claws, just spiky shells. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spiny/#x7)

### Note

Spine (sharp point) + -y = spiny (drop the e). Comparative: spinier. Do not confuse with "spine" meaning backbone; spiny means prickly, not having a backbone.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «spiny» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spiny/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«spiny» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/spiny.html) on Mova free.