Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Nearby Words

Dorsal

 - 8 dictionary results

dor⋅sal

1  [dawr-suhl]
Use Dorsal in a Sentence
–adjective
1. of, pertaining to, or situated at the back, or dorsum.
2. Anatomy, Zoology.
a. situated on or toward the upper side of the body, equivalent to the back, or posterior, in humans.
b. situated on or toward the posterior plane in humans or toward the upper plane in quadrupeds.
3. Botany. pertaining to the surface away from the axis, as of a leaf; abaxial.
4. Phonetics. (of a speech sound) articulated with the dorsum of the tongue.
–noun
5. Phonetics. a dorsal speech sound.
6. Anatomy. a dorsal structure.
Origin:
1535–45; < ML dorsālis, equiv. to L dors(um) back + -ālis -al 1

Related forms:
dor⋅sal⋅ly, adverb

dor⋅sal

2  [dawr-suhl]
–noun
dossal (def. 1).

dos⋅sal

  [dos-uhl]
–noun
1. Also, dorsal. an ornamental hanging placed at the back of an altar or at the sides of the chancel.
2. Archaic. dosser 1 (def. 2).
Also, dossel.

Origin:
1650–60; < ML dossale, for L dorsale, neut. of dorsālis, equiv. to dors(um) back + -ālis -al 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Dorsal
dor·sal   (dôr'səl)   
adj.  

  1. Anatomy Of, toward, on, in, or near the back or upper surface of an organ, part, or organism.

  2. Botany Of or on the outer surface, underside, or back of an organ.


[Middle English, from Late Latin dorsālis, from Latin dorsuālis, from dorsum, back.]
dor'sal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

dorsal 
1541, from M.Fr. dorsal, from L.L. dorsalis, from L. dorsualis "of the back," from dorsum "back," of uncertain origin.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 1dor·sal
Pronunciation: 'dor-s&l
Function: adjective
1 a : being or located near, on, or toward the upper surfaceof an animal (as a quadruped) opposite the lower or ventral surface b : being or located near, on, or toward the back or posterior part of the human body
2 chieflyBritish : THORACIC —dor·sal·ly /-s&-lE/ adverb

Main Entry: 2dorsal
Function: noun
: a dorsally located part; especially : a thoracic vertebra
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

dorsal dor·sal (dôr'səl)
adj.

  1. Of, toward, on, in, or near the back or upper surface of an organ, a part, or an organism.

  2. Lying on the back; supine.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see Dorsal on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way