noun
- Plural of aril; seed coverings or appendages that are often brightly colored, fleshy, or waxy, found on certain seeds.
Usage: Botanical term; Commonly used in botany and horticulture
Examples
- The pomegranate seeds are surrounded by juicy arils that are sweet and edible.
- Nutmeg arils are dried and sold as mace, a valuable spice.
- The bright red arils of yew berries attract birds that help disperse the seeds.
- Some plants develop arils as a way to encourage animals to eat and spread their seeds.
- The arils on these seeds have a waxy coating that protects them from drying out.