calcaneus

[ kal-key-nee-uhs ]

/ kælˈkeɪ ni əs /

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noun, plural cal·ca·ne·i

[kal-key-nee-ahy]. /kælˈkeɪ niˌaɪ/.

Anatomy. the largest tarsal bone, forming the prominence of the heel.

Zoology. the corresponding bone in other vertebrates.

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Also calcaneum.

Also called heel bone.

Origin of calcaneus

1920–25; <Late Latin: heel, noun use of calcāneus of the heel; see calcaneum

OTHER WORDS FROM calcaneus

cal·ca·ne·al, cal·ca·ne·an, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for calcaneus

calcaneus

calcaneum (kælˈkeɪnɪəm)

/ (kælˈkeɪnɪəs) /

noun plural -nei (-nɪˌaɪ) or -nea (-nɪə)

the largest tarsal bone, forming the heel in manNontechnical name: heel bone

the corresponding bone in other vertebrates

Derived forms of calcaneus

calcaneal or calcanean, adjective

Word Origin for calcaneus

C19: from Late Latin: heel, from Latin calx heel

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