intercostal
Americanadjective
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pertaining to muscles, parts, or intervals between the ribs.
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situated between the ribs.
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Shipbuilding. noting a structural member situated between or divided by continuous members, as frames or keelsons.
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of intercostal
From the New Latin word intercostālis, dating back to 1590–1600. See inter-, costal
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 tore an intercostal muscle at the start of the year and trying to rediscover the action that brought so much success has been frustratingly elusive.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2025
After feeling his side cramp up in the Dodgers’ decisive Game 5 win over the San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series, doctors determined he had injured his intercostal muscle.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 3, 2025
In a field hospital in Al Mamoura, Dr. Mohamed Karrar improvised an intercostal drain system using a sterilized soda bottle to pump the blood from a gunshot victim’s punctured lung.
From New York Times ● Apr. 30, 2023
Wendle has been on the injured list since April 4 with a right intercostal strain.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 24, 2023
"Hysteric" tenderness also sometimes bears a considerable resemblance, superficially, to true intercostal neuralgia, in cases where the genuine disease does not exist.
From Neuralgia and the Diseases that Resemble it by Anstie, Francis E.
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.
