Pronunciation: [ɐsˈɜːɹəs] (IPA) 
The word "acerous" is spelled /ˈeɪsərəs/. The first syllable "ace" is pronounced as "ay" with the same sound as the letter "A". The following syllable "rous" contains the schwa sound /ə/ and the consonant sound /r/. "Acerous" is an adjective meaning "not having hair" or "bald". Its roots come from the Latin word "acer" which means "sharp". The word is commonly used in botany to describe plants without hair or downy covering.
Acerous is an adjective that refers to an object or substance devoid or lacking in hardness or rigidity, often characterized by a soft and flexible nature. The term originates from the Latin word "acer" meaning "sharp" or "acute," and it is commonly used in the field of botany to describe plant structures that do not possess woody or lignified tissues.
In the botanical context, acerous pertains to plants or plant parts that are soft, pliant, and lacking in the usual hardness associated with woody plants. It describes structures such as stems, leaves, or roots that do not undergo typical lignification processes, resulting in a more delicate and fragile texture. These non-woody plant tissues are typically herbaceous, meaning they have a shorter lifespan and are more prone to bending or breaking under moderate pressure.
Beyond botany, acerous can also be applied in a broader sense to describe objects or materials in other domains that exhibit similar characteristics, such as textiles or certain types of plastics. In this context, it implies a lack of rigidity, hardness, or stiffness, emphasizing flexibility and pliability.
Overall, acerous serves to classify and distinguish structures or materials that deviate from the typical traits associated with hardness or rigidity, highlighting their soft and flexible nature instead.
In bot., linear and sharp-pointed, applied to the leaves of the fir tribe; chaffy.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word acerous is derived from the Latin word acer, which means sharp or pointed. The suffix -ous is added to indicate the characteristic of being or having the quality of the root word. Therefore, acerous means having no sharp edges or points.
