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anterior
[ an-teer-ee-er ]
/ ænˈtɪər i ər /
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adjective
situated before or at the front of; fore (opposed to posterior).
going before in time or sequence; preceding; earlier: events anterior to the outbreak of war.
Linguistics. (in distinctive feature analysis) articulated in the region extending from the alveolar ridge to the lips; alveolar, dental, or labial.
(in animals and embryos) pertaining to or toward the head or forward end of the body.
(in humans) pertaining to or toward the front plane of the body, equivalent to the ventral surface of quadrupeds.
Botany. on the front side and away from the main axis, as the lower lip of a flower.
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Origin of anterior
1535–45; <Latin, comparative of ante before, formed on model of posterior
OTHER WORDS FROM anterior
an·te·ri·or·i·ty [an-teer-ee-awr-i-tee, -or-], /ænˌtɪər iˈɔr ɪ ti, -ˈɒr-/, nounan·te·ri·or·ly, adverbnon·an·te·ri·or, adjectiveWords nearby anterior
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use anterior in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for anterior
anterior
/ (ænˈtɪərɪə) /
adjective
situated at or towards the front
earlier in time
zoology of or near the head end
botany (of part of a flower or leaf) situated farthest away from the main stem
Compare posterior
Derived forms of anterior
anteriority (ænˌtɪərɪˈɒrɪtɪ), nounWord Origin for anterior
C17: from Latin, comparative of ante before
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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