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tarsal

American  
[tahr-suhl] / ˈtɑr səl /

adjective

  1. of or relating to the tarsus of the foot.

  2. pertaining to the tarsi of the eyelids.


noun

  1. a tarsal bone, joint, or the like.

tarsal British  
/ ˈtɑːsəl /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or constituting the tarsus or tarsi

"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

  1. a tarsal 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
tarsal Scientific  
/ tärsəl /
  1. Relating to or involving the ankle.


  1. Any of the seven bones of the tarsus.

Other Word Forms

  • intertarsal adjective
  • posttarsal adjective
  • subtarsal adjective

Etymology

Origin of tarsal

First recorded in 1810–20; tars(us) + -al 1

Vocabulary lists containing tarsal

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.

He had “marked flexure of the carpal and tarsal joints of all four limbs”—that is, hooked legs.

From The New Yorker • Jun. 5, 2017

The longitudinal arches are formed by the tarsal bones posteriorly and the metatarsal bones anteriorly.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

This area corresponds to ligaments that connect the tarsal or midfoot bones.”

From New York Times • Dec. 1, 2012

A bone in his foot, called the tarsal scaphoid, started to deform, causing intense pain.

From Time • Aug. 26, 2011

Feet.—Members of the Ptychohyla euthysanota group have a weak tarsal fold, whereas in the species comprising the Ptychohyla schmidtorum group the tarsal fold is absent.

From A Review of the Middle American Tree Frogs of the Genus Ptychohyla by Duellman, William E.