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gastrocnemius

American  
[gas-trok-nee-mee-uhs, gas-truh-nee-] / ˌgæs trɒkˈni mi əs, ˌgæs trəˈni- /

noun

Anatomy.

plural

gastrocnemii

  1. the largest muscle in the calf of the leg, the action of which extends the foot, raises the heel, and assists in bending the knee.

Other Word Forms

  • gastrocnemial adjective
  • gastrocnemian adjective

Etymology

Origin of gastrocnemius

1670–80; < New Latin < Greek gastroknēm ( ía ) calf of the leg + Latin -ius noun suffix

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.