anterior
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.
Origin of anterior
1Other words from anterior
- an·te·ri·or·i·ty [an-teer-ee-awr-i-tee, -or-], /ænˌtɪər iˈɔr ɪ ti, -ˈɒr-/, noun
- an·te·ri·or·ly, adverb
- non·an·te·ri·or, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use anterior in a sentence
The team saw nerve cells, or neurons, firing in the anterior cingulate cortex, an area important in human empathy and part of the brain region responsible for memory and cognition.
Mice may ‘catch’ each other’s pain — and pain relief | Carolyn Wilke | January 12, 2021 | Science NewsProthorax two-thirds wider than long, sides parallel in basal half, convergent anteriorly.
The belly is creamy white anteriorly and vermillion red posteriorly.
Amphibians and Reptiles of the Rainforests of Southern El Peten, Guatemala | William E. DuellmanA cream-colored lateral stripe is on the third and fourth dorsal scale-rows anteriorly and the second and third rows posteriorly.
Amphibians and Reptiles of the Rainforests of Southern El Peten, Guatemala | William E. DuellmanNostrils placed dorsolaterally and directed anteriorly, situated about midway between tip of snout and eye.
The Amphibians and Reptiles of Michoacn, Mxico | William E. Duellman
Specimens from the three mentioned localities have the dark nuchal spot bordered anteriorly by a pale blotch.
The Amphibians and Reptiles of Michoacn, Mxico | William E. Duellman
British Dictionary definitions for anterior
/ (ænˈtɪərɪə) /
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
Origin of anterior
1- Compare posterior
Derived forms of anterior
- anteriority (ænˌtɪərɪˈɒrɪtɪ), noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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