dorsal

¹ American  

[dawr-suhl] / ˈdɔr səl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or situated at the back, or dorsum.

2. Anatomy, Zoology.

   1. situated on or toward the upper side of the body, equivalent to the back, or posterior, in humans.

   2. situated on or toward the posterior plane in humans or toward the upper plane in quadrupeds.

3. Botany.  pertaining to the surface away from the axis, as of a leaf; abaxial.

4. Phonetics.  (of a speech sound) articulated with the dorsum of the tongue.

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noun

1. Phonetics.  a dorsal speech sound.

2. Anatomy.  a dorsal structure.

dorsal ² American  

[dawr-suhl] / ˈdɔr səl /

noun

1. dossal.

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dorsal British  

/ ˈdɔːsəl /

adjective

1. anatomy zoology relating to the back or spinal part of the body Compare ventral

2. botany of, relating to, or situated on the side of an organ that is directed away from the axis

3. articulated with the back of the tongue, as the (k) sound in English coot

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dorsal Scientific  

/ dôr′səl /

1. Relating to or on the back or upper surface of an animal.

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Other Word Forms

• dorsally adverb

Etymology

Origin of dorsal

1535–45; < Medieval Latin dorsālis, equivalent to Latin dors ( um ) back + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

These overstimulated immune cells then move toward the dorsal root ganglia -- the sensory nerve hubs that link the limbs to the spinal cord -- and release inflammatory compounds that irritate and damage nerves.

From Science Daily

"One of the sightings reported a group of single male outer coast orcas slapping each other with their dorsal fins and charging at inner coast females."

From Science Daily

Each encounter was carefully recorded, and the individual orcas were identified by markings on their dorsal fins.

From Science Daily

"A dorsal fin slowly broke the surface revealing that familiar profile that looked like a shark," he said.

From BBC

This species is unique for the dorsal attachment of its stipe to the top of the pileus, and the abundant cystidia covering all surfaces of the fruiting body.

From Salon