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apical

[ ey-pi-kuh l, ap-i- ]
/ ˈeɪ pɪ kəl, ˈæp ɪ- /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR apical ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of, at, or forming the apex.
Phonetics. (of a speech sound) articulated principally with the aid of the tip of the tongue, as t or d.

noun

Phonetics. an apical sound.

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RELATED WORDS

acute, pointed, finest, dominant, preeminent, leading, primary, excellent, elite, principal, keen, salient, fine, tapering, prime, superior, head, lead, crowning

Nearby words

  1. apiaceous,
  2. apian,
  3. apiarian,
  4. apiarist,
  5. apiary,
  6. apical dental foramen,
  7. apical dominance,
  8. apical gland,
  9. apical granuloma,
  10. apical meristem

Origin of apical

1820–30; < Latin apic- (stem of apex) apex + -al1
Related formsa·pi·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for apical

British Dictionary definitions for apical

apical

/ (ˈæpɪkəl, ˈeɪ-) /

adjective

of, at, or being the apex
of or denoting a consonant articulated with the tip of the tongue, such as (t) or (d)
Derived Formsapically, adverb

Word Origin for apical

C19: from New Latin apicālis, from Latin: apex
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
Word Origin and History for apical

apical

adj.

"of or belonging to an apex," 1828, from Latin apicem, from apex (see apex) + -al (1).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for apical

apical

[ ā′pĭ-kəl, ăp′ĭ- ]

adj.

Relating to the apex of a pyramidal or pointed structure.
Situated nearer to the apex of a structure in relation to a specific reference point.
Related formsa′pi•cal•ly adv.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.