sphenoid

American

[sfee-noid] / ˈsfi nɔɪd /

adjective

being in the shape of a wedge; wedge-shaped.
Anatomy. of or relating to the compound bone of the base of the skull, at the roof of the pharynx.

noun

Anatomy. the sphenoid bone.

sphenoid British

/ ˈsfiːnɔɪd /

adjective

wedge-shaped
of or relating to the sphenoid bone

"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

noun

See sphenoid bone

"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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of sphenoid

1725–35; < New Latin sphēnoīdēs < Greek sphēnoeidḗs. See sphen-, -oid

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.

Sphenoid, -al, sfē′noid, -al, adj. wedge-shaped: inserted like a wedge, denoting a bone at the base of the skull.—adjs.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023