posterior
[ po-steer-ee-er, poh- ]
/ pɒˈstɪər i ər, poʊ- /
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. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for posterior
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
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for posterior
posterior
[ pŏ-stîr′ē-ər, pō- ]
adj.
Located behind a part or toward the rear of a structure.
Relating to the caudal end of the body in quadrupeds or the dorsal side in humans.
Near the tail or caudal end of certain embryos.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.