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apical

American  
[ey-pi-kuhl, ap-i-] / ˈeɪ pɪ kəl, ˈæp ɪ- /

adjective

  1. of, at, or forming the apex.

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


noun

  1. Phonetics. an apical sound.

apical British  
/ ˈæpɪkəl, ˈeɪ- /

adjective

  1. of, at, or being the apex

  2. of or denoting a consonant articulated with the tip of the tongue, such as (t) or (d)

"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

Other Word Forms

  • apically adverb

Etymology

Origin of apical

1820–30; < Latin apic- (stem of apex ) apex + -al 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This orientation ensures that cellular components are evenly shared and that two new apical progenitor cells are produced.

From Science Daily • Dec. 17, 2025

As a result, apical progenitor cells were less able to renew themselves.

From Science Daily • Dec. 17, 2025

Untreated apical periodontitis can lead to tooth loss, but its effects extend beyond the mouth.

From Science Daily • Oct. 26, 2025

The apical complex is located at the narrow end.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

In Saxifraga a splitting for a short distance of the ventral sutures of the carpels takes place, so that a large apical pore is formed.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 3 "Frost" to "Fyzabad" by Various