condyle

[ kon-dahyl, -dl ]

noun
  1. Anatomy. the smooth surface area at the end of a bone, forming part of a joint.

  2. (in arthropods) a similar process formed from the hard integument.

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Origin of condyle

1
1625–35; variant of condyl<New Latin condylus knuckle <Greek kóndylos

Other words from condyle

  • con·dy·lar, adjective
  • in·ter·con·dy·lar, adjective
  • post·con·dy·lar, adjective
  • pre·con·dy·lar, adjective
  • trans·con·dy·lar, adjective

Words Nearby condyle

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use condyle in a sentence

  • The skull may be immovably fixed to the vertebral column, or may articulate with it by a single or double occipital condyle.

    The Vertebrate Skeleton | Sidney H. Reynolds
  • When the occipital condyle is double, it is formed by the exoccipitals, and the basi-occipital is small or unossified.

    The Vertebrate Skeleton | Sidney H. Reynolds
  • The lower angle of the quadrate bears a cartilaginous condyle with which the mandible articulates.

    The Vertebrate Skeleton | Sidney H. Reynolds
  • The ninth nerve passes through the more external of these foramina, the tenth through the one nearer the condyle.

    The Vertebrate Skeleton | Sidney H. Reynolds
  • Its outer surface is marked by a deep recess, and it ends below in a strong condyle with which the mandible articulates.

    The Vertebrate Skeleton | Sidney H. Reynolds

British Dictionary definitions for condyle

condyle

/ (ˈkɒndɪl) /


noun
  1. the rounded projection on the articulating end of a bone, such as the ball portion of a ball-and-socket joint

Origin of condyle

1
C17: from Latin condylus knuckle, joint, from Greek kondulos

Derived forms of condyle

  • condylar, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for condyle

condyle

[ kŏndīl′ ]


  1. A round, protruding part at the end of a bone, especially one that forms part of a joint.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.