definitions

talus

1
[ tey-luh s ]
/ ˈteɪ ləs /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR talus ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural ta·li [tey-lahy] /ˈteɪ laɪ/. Anatomy.

the uppermost bone of the proximal row of bones of the tarsus; anklebone.

RELATED WORDS

bone, slope, ridge, dune, bluff, cliff, hillside, hilltop, highland, anklebone, tarsus, astragalus, promontory, down, headland, stack, ascent, gradient, hillock, precipice

Nearby words

talocrural joint, talon, talooka, talos, taluk, talus, talweg, talys, tam, tam-o'-shanter, tam-tam

Origin of talus

1
First recorded in 1685–95, talus is from the Latin word tālus ankle, anklebone, die. See tassel

Definition for talus (2 of 2)

talus

2
[ tey-luh s, tal-uh s ]
/ ˈteɪ ləs, ˈtæl əs /

noun, plural ta·lus·es.

a slope.
Geology. a sloping mass of rocky fragments at the base of a cliff.
Fortification. the slope of the face of a work.

Origin of talus

2
1635–45; < French: pseudo-learned alteration of Old French talu slope < Latin talūtium gold-bearing slope or talus (Vulgar Latin: slope), perhaps of Iberian origin
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for talus

British Dictionary definitions for talus (1 of 2)

talus

1
/ (ˈteɪləs) /

noun plural -li (-laɪ)

the bone of the ankle that articulates with the leg bones to form the ankle jointNontechnical name: anklebone

Word Origin for talus

C18: from Latin: ankle

British Dictionary definitions for talus (2 of 2)

talus

2
/ (ˈteɪləs) /

noun plural -luses

geology another name for scree
fortifications the sloping side of a wall

Word Origin for talus

C17: from French, from Latin talūtium slope, perhaps of Iberian origin
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

Medicine definitions for talus

talus

[ tā′ləs ]

n. pl. ta•li (-lī′)

The bone of the ankle that articulates with the tibia and fibula to form the ankle joint.anklebone astragalus
The ankle.
Related formsta′lar (-lər) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Science definitions for talus (1 of 2)

talus

1
[ tā′ləs ]

Plural tali (tā′lī′)

The bone of the ankle that articulates with the tibia and fibula to form the ankle joint.

Science definitions for talus (2 of 2)

talus

2
[ tā′ləs ]

Plural taluses

Rock fragments that have accumulated at the base of a cliff or slope.♦ The concave slope formed by such an accumulation of rock fragments is called a talus slope.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.