femur

[fee-mer]

noun

plural

femurs, femora 

1. Anatomy.,  a bone in the human leg extending from the pelvis to the knee, that is the longest, largest, and strongest in the body; thighbone.

2. Zoology.,  a corresponding bone of the leg or hind limb of an animal.

3. Entomology.,  the third segment of the leg of an insect (counting from the base), situated between the trochanter and the tibia.

femur

/ ˈfiːmə /

noun

1. Nontechnical name: thighbone. the longest thickest bone of the human skeleton, articulating with the pelvis above and the knee below

2. the corresponding bone in other vertebrates

3. the segment of an insect's leg nearest to the body

femur

1. The long bone of the thigh or of the upper portion of the hind leg.

2. See more at skeleton

Word History and Origins

Origin of femur¹

1555–65; < Latin: thigh

Word History and Origins

Origin of femur¹

C18: from Latin: thigh

Related Words

• groin