posterior
[ po-steer-ee-er, poh- ]
/ pɒˈstɪər i ər, poʊ- /
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adjective
situated behind or at the rear of; hinder (opposed to anterior).
coming after in order, as in a series.
coming after in time; later; subsequent (sometimes followed by to).
Anatomy, Zoology.
- (in quadrupeds) pertaining to or toward the rear or caudal end of the body.
- (in humans and other primates) pertaining to or toward the back plane of the body, equivalent to the dorsal surface of quadrupeds.
Botany. toward the back and near the main axis, as the upper lip of a flower.
noun
the hinder parts or rump of the body; buttocks.
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Origin of posterior
1525–35; <Latin, comparative of posterus coming after, derivative of post after
synonym study for posterior
1. See back1.
OTHER WORDS FROM posterior
pos·te·ri·or·ly, adverbDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use posterior in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for posterior
posterior
/ (pɒˈstɪərɪə) /
adjective
noun
the buttocks; rump
statistics a posterior probability
Compare anterior
Derived forms of posterior
posteriorly, adverbWord Origin for posterior
C16: from Latin: latter, from posterus coming next, from post after
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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