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vestigial

 - 5 dictionary results

ves⋅tig⋅i⋅al

  [ve-stij-ee-uhl, -stij-uhl]
Use vestigial in a Sentence
–adjective
of, pertaining to, or of the nature of a vestige: a vestigial tail.
Origin:
1880–85; < L vestīgi(um) vestige + -al 1

Related forms:
ves⋅tig⋅i⋅al⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To vestigial
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.
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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Medical Dictionary

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
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

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

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