Spinode, spī′nōd, n. (geom.) a cusp or stationary point of a curve.
Spinozism, spi-nōz′izm, n. the doctrine of Benedict Spinoza (1632-1677), who taught that God is not only the creator, but also the original matter of the universe, which consists of and is a development of Himself.—n. Spinō′zist, a follower of Spinoza.—adj. Spinōzis′tic.
Spinster, spin′stėr, n. an unmarried female: an old maid: (obs.) a woman of loose character, fit for the spinning-house.—ns. Spin′sterdom, the world of old maids collectively; Spin′sterhood, Spin′stership, the state of being a spinster; Spin′stress, one who spins. [Orig. one who spins.]
Spintext, spin′tekst, n. a lengthy preacher.
Spiracle, spir′a-kl, n. a breathing-hole: any minute passage.—adjs. Spirac′ular; Spirac′ulate; Spiraculif′erous; Spirac′uliform.—n. Spirac′ulum:—pl. Spirac′ula. [L. spiraculum, formed as a double dim. from spirāre, to breathe.]
Spiræa, spī-rē′a, n. a genus of plants of the natural order Rosaceæ, containing many species of herbaceous plants and low deciduous shrubs—Dropwort, Meadow-sweet, &c. [L.,—Gr. speiraia, meadow-sweet—speira, a coil.]
Spiral, spī′ral, adj. pertaining to, or like, a spire: winding like the thread of a screw.—n. a spiral line: a curve which continually recedes from a centre about which it revolves: a screw.—n. Spiral′ity.—adv. Spī′rally, in a spiral form or direction.—adj. Spirā′ted, spiral, whorled.
Spirant, spī′rant, n. a consonant which is fricative or continuable—opp. to explosive, esp. v and f, th, dh; by others made to include the sibilants, and the semi-vowels w and y.
Spiranthy, spī-ranth′i, n. the spiral distortion sometimes occurring in the parts of a flower.—adj. Spiranth′ic. [Gr. speira, a spire, anthos, a flower.]
Spiraster, spī-ras′tėr, n. in sponges, a short curved axial rod-like spicule with thick spines. [Gr. speira, spire, astēr, star.]