humerus
Americannoun
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the long bone in the arm of humans extending from the shoulder to the elbow.
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Zoology. a corresponding bone, structure, or region in the forelimbs of other animals or in the wings of birds or insects.
noun
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the bone that extends from the shoulder to the elbow
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the corresponding bone in other vertebrates
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of humerus
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin ( h ) umerus shoulder; cognate with Greek ômos, Gothic ams, Sanskrit ámsas
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.
Draper said before the tournament that he was "ready to go" despite struggling with a bruised humerus - the bone that runs from the shoulder to elbow - on his left serving arm.
From BBC • Aug. 27, 2025
A humerus bone fracture near the elbow is a common injury among children who fall.
From Science Daily • Jun. 5, 2024
The UCL connects the humerus bone to ulna bone at the elbow.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 2, 2023
Thicker bones, like the femur and humerus, tend to better withstand heat.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 31, 2023
The humerus in quadrupeds is inflected like the letter S; in man this general form is less accentuated, the humerus being almost straight.
From Artistic Anatomy of Animals by Cuyer, ?douard
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.