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Synonyms

pelvis

American  
[pel-vis] / ˈpɛl vɪs /

noun

Anatomy, Zoology.

PLURAL

pelvises, pelves

  1. the basinlike cavity in the lower part of the trunk of many vertebrates, formed in humans by the innominate bones, sacrum, etc.

  2. the bones forming this cavity.

  3. the cavity of the kidney that receives the urine before it is passed into the ureter.

pelvis British  
/ ˈpɛlvɪs /

noun

  1. the large funnel-shaped structure at the lower end of the trunk of most vertebrates: in man it is formed by the hipbones and sacrum

  2. the bones that form this structure

  3. any anatomical cavity or structure shaped like a funnel or cup

  4. short for renal pelvis

"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
pelvis Scientific  
/ pĕl′vĭs /

PLURAL

pelvises

  1. The basin-shaped structure in vertebrate animals that joins the spine and lower or hind limbs. In primates, the pelvis is composed of the two hipbones joined to the sacrum. It contains, protects, and supports the intestines, bladder, and internal reproductive organs.

pelvis Cultural  

  1. The bowl-shaped group of bones connecting the trunk of the body to the legs and supporting the spine. The pelvis includes the hip bones and the lower part of the backbone.

Etymology

Origin of pelvis

1605–15; < New Latin; Latin: basin; akin to Greek pellís bowl

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.

In the hours Nemcova was frozen, debris broke every bone in her pelvis and caused severe internal bleeding in her stomach, ABC reported.

From Los Angeles Times

The 76-year-old revealed he suffered with bladder and prostate cancer which spread to his spine and pelvis.

From BBC

The driver of the BMW suffered fractures to her spine and pelvis and her other passenger suffered a broken arm.

From Los Angeles Times

A woman whose cancer has spread to her bones, back, pelvis and neck but has been denied a life-extending drug because she lives in Wales says she "wants a chance to live".

From BBC

The prostate is a gland that is about the size of a walnut which sits just below the bladder within the pelvis.

From BBC

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.