sternum en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈstɝ.nəm/ (General-American)
- /ˈstɜː.nəm/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (Southern-England) audio
Etymology
Borrowed from New Latin sternum, related to Old English steorn (“forehead”), German Stirn (“forehead”).
Meanings
-
The breastbone, consisting of the manubrium, gladiolus, and xiphoid process.
The neckline fell into a V, showing the bone of his sternum.
2020, Akwaeke Emezi, The Death of Vivek Oji, Faber & Faber, page 231:
- The sclerotized ventral plate of spiders, between the coxae, marking the floor of the cephalothorax.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| sternums | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| sterna | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
entosternum · omosternum · tritosternum · xiphisternum · presternum · sternebra · mesosternum · coxosternum · hyosternum · tetrasternum · prosternum · sternectomy · sternal · pentasternum · metasternum · furcasternum · episternum · hyposternum