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humerus

American  
[hyoo-mer-uhs, yoo-] / ˈhyu mər əs, ˈyu- /

noun

Anatomy.
humeri plural
  1. the long bone in the arm of humans extending from the shoulder to the elbow.

  2. brachium.

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


humerus British  
/ ˈhjuːmərəs /

noun

  1. the bone that extends from the shoulder to the elbow

  2. the corresponding bone in other vertebrates

"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

humerus Scientific  
/ hyo̅o̅mər-əs /
humeri plural
  1. The bone of the upper arm or the upper portion of the foreleg.

  2. See more at skeleton


Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

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

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