Anatomy, Zoology. the bones of the proximal segment of the foot; the bones between the tibia and the metatarsus, contributing to the construction of the ankle joint.
the small plate of connective tissue along the border of an eyelid.
the distal part of the leg of an insect, usually subdivided in the adult into two to five segments.
the bones of the ankle and heel, collectively
the corresponding part in other mammals and in amphibians and reptiles
another name for tarsometatarsus
the dense connective tissue supporting the free edge of each eyelid
the part of an insect's leg that lies distal to the tibia
a city in SE Turkey, on the Tarsus River: site of ruins of ancient Tarsus, capital of Cilicia, and birthplace of St Paul. Pop: 231 000 (2005 est)
Ancient name: Cydnus. a river in SE Turkey, in Cilicia, rising in the Taurus Mountains and flowing south past Tarsus to the Mediterranean. Length: 153 km (95 miles)
The group of seven bones lying between the leg and the metatarsals and forming part of the ankle.
The group of bones lying between the leg and metatarsals in the hind feet in some vertebrates, such as dinosaurs and birds.
A fibrous plate that supports and shapes the edge of the eyelid.
The lower part of the leg of an arthropod, usually divided into segments.
1670–80; < New Latin < Greek tarsós flat of the foot
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Some are sturdy leather brogues with heels extending beyond the back of the shoe; others have tongues that take their licks at the ankles, leaving even the slimmest tarsus looking like a giant redwood.
From Time Magazine Archive
In specimens from Los Tuxtlas the tarsal fold is well-developed and extends two-thirds to three-fourths the length of the tarsus; the tibiotarsal articulation reaches the nostril and sometimes slightly beyond the tip of the snout.
From A Distributional Study of the Amphibians of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Mexico by Duellman, William E.
Hind toe articulated on the inner surface of the tarsus, united to other toes by a web.
From British Birds in their Haunts by Johns, Rev. C. A.
Sustentac′ular, supporting, pertaining to a Sustentac′ulum, a support or sustaining tissue, esp. an inferior spine of the tarsus in spiders of the genus Epeira.—v.t.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various
Tarsometatar′sal, pertaining to the tarsus and the metatarsus.—n.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various
Tarsus American College announced the death of its graduates Mert Doğan, his wife Duygu, and their children Mavi and Doğan, as well as another graduate's grandson Ömür Kotan.
From BBC ● Jan. 22, 2025
This wasn’t really the plan, any more than Saul of Tarsus planned to become Paul the Apostle on the road to Damascus.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2023
In the foreword, Jancic wrote, “Not since the conversion of Saul of Tarsus on the Road to Damascus have I ever heard a conversion story more radically compelling.”
From The New Yorker ● Mar. 14, 2016
On Friday hundreds of women gathered outside the courthouse in Tarsus, southern Turkey, calling for action to protect women.
From The Guardian ● Jun. 12, 2015
—Plutarch While Mark Antony was holding court at the marketplace in Tarsus and awaiting Cleopatra’s arrival, word spread that the queen was approaching.
From "Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen" by Susan Blackaby
This force relies on the parasite’s highly adapted feet, called tarsi, which are equipped with toothed claws.
From Scientific American ● Mar. 31, 2022
The scutellum and the five-jointed tarsi at once remove it from Mallophaga, and it is a wonder that Le Conte and Horn have not more fully insisted on this fact.
From Scientific American Supplement, No. 648, June 2, 1888. by Various
Lore with feathers; tarsi short and strong, naked or feathered; wings large, the fourth primary the longest.
From British Birds in their Haunts by Johns, Rev. C. A.
Bill slightly compressed, not covered with a membranous skin; edges of the mandibles unarmed, or but slightly toothed; wings short; legs placed far behind; tarsi very much compressed; toes four.
From British Birds in their Haunts by Johns, Rev. C. A.
Many specimens have chiggers on the digits and tarsi.
From A Taxonomic Revision of the Leptodactylid Frog Genus Syrrhophus Cope by Lynch, John D.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
