cuneiform

American  

[kyoo-nee-uh-fawrm, kyoo-nee-uh-] / kyuˈni əˌfɔrm, ˈkyu ni ə- /

Sometimes cuniform

adjective

1. having the form of a wedge; wedge-shaped.

2. composed of slim triangular or wedge-shaped elements, as the characters used in writing by the ancient Akkadians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, and others.

3. written in cuneiform characters.

   cuneiform inscription.

4. Anatomy. noting or pertaining to any of various wedge-shaped bones, as of the tarsus.

---

noun

1. cuneiform characters or writing.

2. a cuneiform bone.

cuneiform British  

/ ˈkjuːnɪˌfɔːm /

adjective

1. Also: cuneal.  wedge-shaped

2. of, relating to, or denoting the wedge-shaped characters employed in the writing of several ancient languages of Mesopotamia and Persia, esp Sumerian, Babylonian, etc

3. of or relating to a tablet in which this script is employed

4. of or relating to any of the three tarsal bones

---

noun

1. cuneiform characters or writing

2. any one of the three tarsal bones

Etymology

Origin of cuneiform

First recorded in 1670–80; from Latin cune(us) “a wedge” + -i- + -form

Explanation

Cuneiform is a type of writing that was used in ancient Mesopotamia and Persia. In a museum, you might see artifacts such as stone tablets with cuneiform carved into them. Cuneiform is typically pronounced "kyoo-NEE-uh-form." Back in Mesopotamian times, you would have written by carving wedge-shaped characters that make up a language called cuneiform. From the shape of the characters, we get the adjective cuneiform, which means "wedge-shaped," like a cuneiform platter. Cuneiform also describes wedge-shaped bones, like those found in the lower leg.

Example Sentences

But Iraqi officials repeatedly urged them to depart, despite their discovery of ancient cuneiform tablets.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

Some of these include cuneiform bricks, terracotta pots, coins and other objects sourced from places like Babylon, Mesopotamia, Susa and Iran and are dated to 4000-5000 BCE.

From BBC • May 16, 2025

To this day, my notes look like something between cuneiform and the lines from furniture on wooden floors after decades of wear and tear.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 11, 2024

"Up until now it has been difficult to access the content of many cuneiform tablets at once -- you sort of need to know exactly what you are looking for and where," Mara adds.

From Science Daily • Nov. 20, 2023

The broken walls were covered with friezes of men and women in strange outfits with bands of cuneiform running both above and below.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

Related Words

• calligraphy
• handwriting
• print
• script