fibula

American  

[fib-yuh-luh] / ˈfɪb yə lə /

noun

plural

fibulae, fibulas

1. Anatomy. the outer and thinner of the two bones of the human leg, extending from the knee to the ankle.

2. Zoology. a corresponding bone, often rudimentary or ankylosed with the tibia, of the leg or hind limb of an animal.

3. a clasp or brooch, often ornamented, used by the ancient Greeks and Romans.

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fibula British  

/ ˈfɪbjʊlə /

noun

1. the outer and thinner of the two bones between the knee and ankle of the human leg Compare tibia

2. the corresponding bone in other vertebrates

3. a metal brooch resembling a safety pin, often highly decorated, common in Europe after 1300 _bc

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fibula Scientific  

/ fĭb′yə-lə /

plural

fibulae

1. The smaller of the two bones of the lower leg or lower portion of the hind leg.

2. See more at skeleton

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Other Word Forms

• fibular adjective

Etymology

Origin of fibula

1665–75; < New Latin; Latin fībula bolt, pin, clasp, probably < *fīvibula, equivalent to fīv ( ere ), early form of fīgere to fasten, fix + -i- -i- + -bula suffix denoting instrument; the bone so called from its resemblance to the tongue of a clasp

Compare meaning

How does fibula compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• tibia vs. fibula

Example Sentences

Isak is recovering from an operation on an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture, which has wrecked his first season on Merseyside.

From Barron's

His meticulously assembled forest of skulls, femurs, tibiae, and fibulae isn’t sacrilege; it’s a memorial.

From Salon

The Sweden international had an operation on what Liverpool described as "an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture".

From BBC

Liverpool said in a statement on Monday that the forward had had an operation on an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture.

From Barron's

Liverpool said the 26-year-old "successfully underwent surgery" on an "ankle injury that included a fibula fracture".

From BBC