hyoid

[ hahy-oid ]

adjective

1. Also hy·oi·dal [] hy·oi·de·an []. noting or pertaining to a U -shaped bone at the root of the tongue in humans, or a corresponding bone or collection of bones in animals.

noun

1. the hyoid bone.

hyoid

/ ˈhaɪɔɪd /

adjective

1. of or relating to the hyoid bone

noun

1. the horseshoe-shaped bone that lies at the base of the tongue and above the thyroid cartilage
2. a corresponding bone or group of bones in other vertebrates

Other Words From

• post·hy·oid adjective
• sub·hy·oid adjective
• sub·hy·oid·e·an adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hyoid¹

1700–10; < New Latin hȳoïdes < Greek hȳoeidḗs, shaped like the letter hypsilon (i.e. upsilon), equivalent to hȳ- (derivative of letter name hŷ, variant of ŷ; upsilon ) + -oeidēs -oid

Word History and Origins

Origin of hyoid¹

C19: from New Latin hӯoïdes, from Greek huoeidēs having the shape of the letter upsilon , from hu upsilon + -oid

Example Sentences

Another gill arch eventually evolved into a head bone called the hyoid.

From Science Magazine

Ms Inglis had sustained a subdural hematoma and a fractured hyoid bone, a horseshoe-shaped bone in the middle of the neck.

From BBC

A medical examiner testified that strangulation by hand would have ruptured the hyoid bone, which in this case was intact.

From Los Angeles Times

He noted that Briceno had a broken hyoid bone in his neck, broken blood vessels in both eyes, and blood in his lungs.

From Los Angeles Times

“The hyoid’s movement to generate suction is very similar to movement of the tongue back and forth to manipulate prey,” Schwenk explains.

From Science Magazine