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vestigial - 6 dictionary results

ves⋅tig⋅i⋅al

[ve-stij-ee-uhl, -stij-uhl]
–adjective
of, pertaining to, or of the nature of a vestige: a vestigial tail.

Origin:
1880–85; < L vestīgi(um) vestige + -al 1


ves⋅tig⋅i⋅al⋅ly, adverb
ves·tig·i·al   (vě-stĭj'ē-əl, -stĭj'əl)   
adj.  
  1. Of, relating to, or constituting a vestige.
  2. Biology Occurring or persisting as a rudimentary or degenerate structure.
ves·tig'i·al·ly adv.

Vestigial

Ves*tig"i*al\, a. Of or pertaining to a vestige or remnant; like a vestige.

Main Entry: ves·tig·ial
Pronunciation: ve-'stij-(E-)&l
Function: adjective
: of, relating to, or being a vestige vestigialstructure> —ves·tig·ial·ly /-E/ adverb

vestigial ves·tig·i·al (vě-stĭj'ē-əl, -stĭj'əl)
adj.
Occurring or persisting as a rudimentary or degenerate structure.

vestigial   (vě-stĭj'ē-əl)  Pronunciation Key 
Relating to a body part that has become small and lost its use because of evolutionary change. Whales, for example, have small bones located in the muscles of their body walls that are vestigial bones of hips and hind limbs.
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