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
- caudally adverb
- postcaudal adjective
- precaudal adjective
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
The scientists found that giving this molecule to mice activated the caudal nucleus of the solitary tract, or cNST, which is tucked inside the brainstem.
From Science Daily
"Additionally, developmental changes suggest that vertebral anatomy shifts across development to support a larger body and caudal fin."
From Science Daily
"They work in tandem to utilize the reverse-Kármán vortex street and adjust their caudal fins accordingly."
From Science Daily
I gave it a strong caudal fin—a tail—to allow the shark to swim side to side and propel it forward.
From Literature
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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.