cuneiform

American  

[kyoo-nee-uh-fawrm, kyoo-nee-uh-] / kyuˈni əˌfɔrm, ˈkyu ni ə- /

Sometimes cuniform

adjective

1. having the form of a wedge; wedge-shaped.

2. composed of slim triangular or wedge-shaped elements, as the characters used in writing by the ancient Akkadians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, and others.

3. written in cuneiform characters.

   cuneiform inscription.

4. Anatomy. noting or pertaining to any of various wedge-shaped bones, as of the tarsus.

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noun

1. cuneiform characters or writing.

2. a cuneiform bone.

cuneiform British  

/ ˈkjuːnɪˌfɔːm /

adjective

1. Also: cuneal.  wedge-shaped

2. of, relating to, or denoting the wedge-shaped characters employed in the writing of several ancient languages of Mesopotamia and Persia, esp Sumerian, Babylonian, etc

3. of or relating to a tablet in which this script is employed

4. of or relating to any of the three tarsal bones

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noun

1. cuneiform characters or writing

2. any one of the three tarsal bones

Etymology

Origin of cuneiform

First recorded in 1670–80; from Latin cune(us) “a wedge” + -i- + -form

Related Words

• calligraphy
• handwriting
• print
• script