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Webster 1913 Edition


Dorsal

Dor′sal

,
Adj.
[F.
dorsal
, LL.
dorsalis
, fr. L.
dorsualis
, fr.
dorsum
back; cf. Gr. [GREEK], [GREEK], mountain ridge. Cf.
Dorse
,
Dorsel
,
Dosel
.]
1.
(Anat.)
Pertaining to, or situated near, the back, or dorsum, of an animal or of one of its parts; notal; tergal; neural;
as, the
dorsal
fin of a fish; the
dorsal
artery of the tongue
; – opposed to
ventral
.
2.
(Bot.)
(a)
Pertaining to the surface naturally inferior, as of a leaf.
(b)
Pertaining to the surface naturally superior, as of a creeping hepatic moss.
Dorsal vessel
(Zool.)
,
a central pulsating blood vessel along the back of insects, acting as a heart.

Dor′sal

,
Noun.
[LL.
dorsale
, neut. fr.
dorsalis
. See
Dorsal
,
Adj.
]
(Fine Arts)
A hanging, usually of rich stuff, at the back of a throne, or of an altar, or in any similar position.

Webster 1828 Edition


Dorsal

DORSAL

,
Adj.
[L., the back.] Pertaining to the back; as the dorsal fin of a fish; dorsal awn, in botany.

Definition 2024


dorsal

dorsal

English

Adjective

dorsal (not comparable)

  1. (anatomy) With respect to, or concerning the side in which the backbone is located, or the analogous side of an invertebrate.
  2. (of a knife) Having only one sharp side.
  3. (anatomy) Relating to the top surface of the foot or hand.
  4. (linguistics, of a sound) Produced using the dorsum of the tongue.
  5. (botany) Relating to the surface naturally inferior, as of a leaf.
  6. (botany) Relating to the surface naturally superior, as of a creeping hepatic moss.

Antonyms

Coordinate terms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Noun

dorsal (plural dorsals)

  1. (art) A hanging, usually of rich stuff, at the back of a throne, altar, etc.
  2. In snakes, any of the longitudinal series of plates that encircle the body, excluding the ventral scales.
  3. (linguistics) A sound produced using the dorsum of the tongue.

Anagrams


Catalan

Adjective

dorsal m, f (masculine and feminine plural dorsals)

  1. dorsal

French

Adjective

dorsal m (feminine singular dorsale, masculine plural dorsaux, feminine plural dorsales)

  1. dorsal

German

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /dɔʁˈzaːl/
  • Rhymes: -aːl

Adjective

dorsal (not comparable)

  1. dorsal

Declension


Portuguese

Adjective

dorsal m, f (plural dorsais, comparable)

  1. (anatomy) dorsal (of the back)
  2. (anatomy) dorsal (of the top surface of a hand or foot)

Spanish

Adjective

dorsal m, f (plural dorsales)

  1. (anatomy) dorsal

Noun

dorsal m (plural dorsales)

  1. ridge