dorsal

¹

[ dawr-suhl ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or situated at the back, or dorsum.
2. Anatomy, Zoology. Compare ventral ( def 2 ).
   1. situated on or toward the upper side of the body, equivalent to the back, or posterior, in humans.
   2. situated on or toward the posterior plane in humans or toward the upper plane in quadrupeds.
3. Botany. pertaining to the surface away from the axis, as of a leaf; abaxial.
4. Phonetics. (of a speech sound) articulated with the dorsum of the tongue.

noun

1. Phonetics. a dorsal speech sound.
2. Anatomy. a dorsal structure.

dorsal

²

[ dawr-suhl ]

noun

1. dossal ( def 1 ).

dorsal

/ ˈdɔːsəl /

adjective

1. anatomy zoology relating to the back or spinal part of the body Compare ventral
2. botany of, relating to, or situated on the side of an organ that is directed away from the axis
3. articulated with the back of the tongue, as the (k) sound in English coot

dorsal

/ dôr′səl /

1. Relating to or on the back or upper surface of an animal.

Derived Forms

• ˈdorsally, adverb

Other Words From

• dorsal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of dorsal¹

1535–45; < Medieval Latin dorsālis, equivalent to Latin dors ( um ) back + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of dorsal¹

C15: from Medieval Latin dorsālis, from Latin dorsum back

Example Sentences

Winter had put a life vest on the dog resembling a shark, with a dorsal fin protruding from its back.

From Los Angeles Times

Yet sea robins are most notable for their distinctively large, fan-shaped dorsal fins and for their six leg-like appendages.

From Salon

The dorsal fin is like a dolphin's fingerprint, as each has distinctive notches, ridges and pigmentation.

From BBC

Wide and pitch black, it had no dorsal fin.

From Seattle Times

“I never thought I’d be holding the dorsal fin of a great white shark and applying this type of technology,” Michalove said.

From Seattle Times