intercostal
Americanadjective
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pertaining to muscles, parts, or intervals between the ribs.
-
situated between the ribs.
-
Shipbuilding. noting a structural member situated between or divided by continuous members, as frames or keelsons.
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
- intercostally adverb
Etymology
Origin of intercostal
From the New Latin word intercostālis, dating back to 1590–1600. See inter-, costal
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He tore an intercostal muscle at the start of the year and trying to rediscover the action that brought so much success has been frustratingly elusive.
From BBC • Jul. 8, 2025
Reliever Michael Grove was put on the 15-day IL because of a right intercostal muscle strain, an injury that is not expected to sideline the right-hander for more than a few weeks.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2024
Garver, meanwhile, has suffered a forearm strain, a left-knee sprain and an intercostal strain among other setbacks.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 12, 2024
In a field hospital in Al Mamoura, Dr. Mohamed Karrar improvised an intercostal drain system using a sterilized soda bottle to pump the blood from a gunshot victim’s punctured lung.
From New York Times • Apr. 30, 2023
The term "intercostal" is less objectionable, except that such a name may call to mind segmental vessels arising from the dorsal aorta.
From Thoracic and Coracoid Arteries In Two Families of Birds, Columbidae and Hirundinidae by Jenkinson, Marion Anne
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.
