caudal
Americanadjective
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Anatomy, Zoology. of, at, or near the tail or the posterior end of the body.
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Zoology. taillike.
caudal appendages.
noun
adjective
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anatomy of or towards the posterior part of the body
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zoology relating to, resembling, or in the position of the tail
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of caudal
1655–65; < New Latin caudālis, equivalent to Latin caud ( a ) tail + -ālis -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.
It has a caudal synarcual, or a specialized adaptation of the ray’s skeletal near the back, which keeps the tail stiff and thereby minimizes the sound of water as it goes about sensing its surroundings.
From Salon • Feb. 10, 2025
They primarily rely on their dorsal fin, whereas strong swimmers use their caudal fin or back tail, Paig-Tran said.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2024
"They work in tandem to utilize the reverse-Kármán vortex street and adjust their caudal fins accordingly."
From Science Daily • Nov. 6, 2023
“It’s sort of unreal, when you come around the corner,” he said, looking skyward toward the caudal fin.
From The New Yorker • May 5, 2019
The head was wedged between large boulders and there was another rock between the caudal fins and tail.
From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
