[an-vil] 
| 1. | a heavy iron block with a smooth face, frequently of steel, on which metals, usually heated until soft, are hammered into desired shapes. |
| 2. | anything having a similar form or use. |
| 3. | the fixed jaw in certain measuring instruments. |
| 4. | Also called anvil cloud, anvil top. Meteorology. incus (def. 2). |
| 5. | a musical percussion instrument having steel bars that are struck with a wooden or metal beater. |
| 6. | Anatomy. incus (def. 1). |
[ing-kuh
s] [in-kyoo-deez] for 1; in⋅cus for 2. | 1. | Anatomy. the middle one of a chain of three small bones in the middle ear of humans and other mammals. Compare malleus, stapes. |
| 2. | Also called anvil, anvil cloud, anvil top, thunderhead. the spreading, anvil-shaped, upper portion of a mature cumulonimbus cloud, smooth or slightly fibrous in appearance. |
[ing-kyuh-deyt, -dit, in-] , in⋅cu⋅dal [ing-kyuh-dl, in-] , adjective anvil an·vil (ān'vĭl)
n.
See incus.
incus in·cus (ĭng'kəs)
n. pl. in·cu·des (ĭng-ky&oomacr;'dēz)
The middle of the three ossicles in the middle ear, located between the malleus and the stapes and composed of a body and two limbs. Also called anvil.
incus (ĭng-ky 'dēz) Pronunciation Key
Plural incudes (ĭng-ky 'dēz)
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