- the main axis or stem of an inflorescence or compound leaf
- the shaft of a feather, esp the part that carries the barbs
- another name for spinal column
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
ra•chis
(rā′kis),USA pronunciation n., pl. ra•chis•es, rach•i•des
ra•chid•i•an
(rə kid′ē ən),USA pronunciation ra•chi•al
(rā′kē əl),USA pronunciation ra•chid′i•al, adj.
-
(rak′i dēz′, rā′ki-).USA pronunciation
- [Bot.]
- Botanythe axis of an inflorescence when somewhat elongated, as in a raceme.
- Botany(in a pinnately compound leaf or frond) the prolongation of the petiole along which the leaflets are disposed.
- Botanyany of various axial structures.
- Birds[Ornith.]the part of the shaft of a feather bearing the web. See illus. under feather.
- AnatomySee spinal column.
- Greek rháchis spine, ridge, backbone
- Neo-Latin
- 1775–85;
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
rachis, rhachis /ˈreɪkɪs/ n ( pl rachises, rhachises, rachides, rhachides /ˈrækɪˌdiːz; ˈreɪ-/)
'rachis' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):