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

This is because both actions depend on moving the U-shaped hyoid bone, but in opposite directions.

From Popular-Science

The fossil’s extremely elongated tongue attachment bones, or hyoid apparatus, suggests that the bird could protrude its tongue from its mouth, much as some present-day birds do to grab hard-to-reach morsels.

From Popular-Science

In today’s birds, the hyoid apparatus consists of cartilage and several bones, including the rod-shaped ceratobranchials and epibranchials.

From Popular-Science

Mallei and hyoid bones of the genera and subgenera of the chipmunks were mostly studied in the dry state.

From Project Gutenberg

The hyoid bone, serving as a medium of attachment for the tongue, may also be considered a portion of the larynx.

From Project Gutenberg

In the posterior halves two similar rods are formed which develop into the hyoid.

From Project Gutenberg

Of arch II., the lower part became the horn of the hyoid, the upper part had a varying fate.

From Project Gutenberg

The hyoid is at first connected with the skull, 140but afterwards frees itself and becomes slung to the "quadrate."

From Project Gutenberg