carpal

[ kahr-puhl ]

/ ˈkɑr pəl /

Anatomy

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adjective

pertaining to the carpus: the carpal joint.

noun

a carpale.

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Origin of carpal

From the New Latin word carpālis, dating back to 1735–45. See carpus, -al¹

OTHER WORDS FROM carpal

in·ter·car·pal, adjectivesu·per·car·pal, adjective

Words nearby carpal

carouse, carousel, carousel fraud, carp, carpaccio, carpal, carpale, carpal joint, carpal tunnel, carpal tunnel syndrome, car park

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use carpal in a sentence

Surgery may be an option when other treatments fail — or for carpal tunnel — to prevent permanent sensation loss.
Easing the aches from hand osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome|Lindsey Konkel|May 31, 2021|Washington Post
When Sterzing, the manager of Keep Norfolk Beautiful, attempted to do cleanups herself in the absence of volunteers, she says she “was getting carpal tunnel” from picking up the piles of garbage across from her local pharmacy.
'Garbage Freaking Everywhere' as Americans Venture Outdoors After a Year of Lockdowns|Alana Semuels|March 26, 2021|Time
He pitched just five innings in 2020 before his season ended with carpal tunnel surgery in his right hand.
Stephen Strasburg dogged by command issues in first outing following calf injury|Jesse Dougherty|March 25, 2021|Washington Post
Strasburg, 32, exited his second outing with the calf strain and missed most of 2020 after undergoing carpal tunnel surgery.
Opening Day is approaching, and the Nationals are still easing in pitchers|Jesse Dougherty|March 18, 2021|Washington Post

Stephen Strasburg will throw a bullpen session Friday after undergoing carpal tunnel surgery in August.
Nationals find bits of normalcy as spring training begins in West Palm Beach|Jesse Dougherty|February 18, 2021|Washington Post
In addition, it can lead to uncomfortable conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and other aches and pains.
Is HGH, Allegedly Alex Rodriguez’s Drug of Choice, Really So Bad?|Kent Sepkowitz|August 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Writing-related health hazards: carpal tunnel, bad eyesight, weight gain, insanity.
22 More Reasons to Stop Writing|Pamela Redmond Satran/Nameberry|March 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST
No one wants to have a carpal-tunnel-inducing conversation via text—not to mention it drains your iPhone battery fast.
Sex in the Time of GPS|Clark Harding|February 1, 2010|DAILY BEAST
The three component bones meet in the circular pneumatic foramen in the middle of the under side of the distal carpal.
Dragons of the Air|H. G. Seeley
The width of a proximal carpal rarely exceeds two inches, and that of a distal carpal is about an inch and three-quarters.
Dragons of the Air|H. G. Seeley
There is no indication of division of the proximal carpal in these genera into constituent bones.
Dragons of the Air|H. G. Seeley
This is brought about by flexion of the elbow and carpal joints.
Lameness of the Horse|John Victor Lacroix
And even in the turtles we have eight carpal bones and five digits, while no finger has less than two phalanges.
On the Genesis of Species|St. George Mivart

British Dictionary definitions for carpal

carpal

/ (ˈkɑːpəl) /

noun

any bone of the wrist
(as modifier)carpal bones

Also: carpale (kɑːˈpeɪlɪ)

Word Origin for carpal

C18: from New Latin carpālis, from Greek karpos wrist

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

Medical definitions for carpal

carpal

[ kär′pəl ]

adj.

Of, relating to, or near the carpus.

Any of the bones of the carpus, including the scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, pisiform, trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, and hamate bones.

Scientific definitions for carpal

carpal

[ kär′pəl ]

Adjective

Relating to or involving the wrist.

Noun

Any of the bones of the human wrist or the joint corresponding to the wrist in some other vertebrates, such as dinosaurs.