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ventral

 - 5 dictionary results

ven⋅tral

  [ven-truhl]
Use ventral in a Sentence
–adjective
1. of or pertaining to the venter or belly; abdominal.
2. Anatomy, Zoology. situated on or toward the lower, abdominal plane of the body; equivalent to the front, or anterior, in humans.
3. Botany, Mycology. of or designating the lower or inner surface of a structure.
Compare dorsal.

Origin:
1730–40; < L ventrālis, equiv. to vent(e)r venter + -ālis -al 1

Related forms:
ven⋅tral⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To ventral
ven·tral   (věn'trəl)   
adj.  

  1. Anatomy

    1. Relating to or situated on or close to the abdomen; abdominal.

    2. Relating to or situated on or close to the anterior aspect of the human body or the lower surface of the body of an animal.

  2. Botany Of or on the lower or inner surface of an organ that faces the axis; adaxial.

n.  

  1. A ventral fin.

  2. The abdominal segment of an insect.


[Late Latin ventrālis, from Latin venter, ventr-, belly.]
ven'tral·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.
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Word Origin & History

ventral 
1739, from Fr. ventral, from L.L. ventralis "of or pertaining to the belly or stomach," from L. venter (gen. ventris) "belly, paunch," from PIE *wend-tri- (cf. L. vesica "bladder," Skt. vastih "bladder," O.H.G. wanast, Ger. wanst "paunch, belly").
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ven·tral
Pronunciation: 'ven-tr&l
Function: adjective
1 : of or relating to the belly : ABDOMINAL
2 a : being or located near, on, or toward the lower surface of an animal (as a quadruped)opposite the back or dorsal surface b : being or located near, on, or toward the front or anterior part of the human body
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

ventral ven·tral (věn'trəl)
adj.

  1. Relating to or situated on or close to the abdomen; abdominal.

  2. Relating to or situated on or close to the anterior aspect of the body.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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