humerus

[ hyoo-mer-uh s or, often, yoo- ]

/ ˈhyu mər əs or, often, ˈyu- /

noun, plural hu·mer·i [hyoo-muh-rahy, or, often, yoo-] /ˈhyu məˌraɪ, or, often, ˈyu-/. Anatomy.

the long bone in the arm of humans extending from the shoulder to the elbow.

Zoology. a corresponding bone, structure, or region in the forelimbs of other animals or in the wings of birds or insects.

Nearby words

humeral, humeral veil, humeroradial, humeroscapular, humeroulnar, humerus, humic, humic acid, humicole, humicolous, humid

Origin of humerus

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin (h)umerus shoulder; cognate with Greek ômos, Gothic ams, Sanskrit ámsas

Can be confused

humerus humorous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for humerus

Three weeks later the humerus was united; the fracture was evidently the result of passing contact, and not of direct impact.
Surgical Experiences in South Africa, 1899-1900|George Henry Makins
The humerus was about 12 inches long; all the bones were in small pieces.
Archeological Investigations|Gerard Fowke
Femur and humerus not bent upon lower leg and fore-arm in a position of rest.
The Cambridge Natural History, Vol X., Mammalia|Frank Evers Beddard
The head of the humerus in the human body projects above the tuberosities.
Artistic Anatomy of Animals|douard Cuyer

The missile lies behind the head of the humerus, under conditions similar to the cases shown in plates 83 and 84.
Gunshot Roentgenograms|Clyde S. Ford

British Dictionary definitions for humerus

humerus

/ (ˈhjuːmərəs) /

noun plural -meri (-məˌraɪ)

the bone that extends from the shoulder to the elbow

the corresponding bone in other vertebrates

Word Origin for humerus

C17: from Latin umerus; related to Gothic ams shoulder, Greek ōmos

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for humerus

humerus

[ hyōō′mər-əs ]

n. pl. hu•mer•i (-mə-rī′)

The long bone of the arm or forelimb, extending from the shoulder to the elbow.

Science definitions for humerus

humerus

[ hyōō′mər-əs ]

Plural humeri (hyōō′mər-ī′)

The bone of the upper arm or the upper portion of the foreleg. See more at skeleton.