metatarsal

[ met-uh-tahr-suhl ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the metatarsus, the part of the foot that includes the bones between the ankle and toes.

noun

1. a bone in the metatarsus.

metatarsal

/ ˌmɛtəˈtɑːsəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the metatarsus

noun

1. any bone of the metatarsus

metatarsal

/ mĕt′ə-tär′səl /

1. Any of the bones of the feet in humans or the back feet in animals that are located between the tarsal bones and the phalanges.

Other Words From

• meta·tarsal·ly adverb
• inter·meta·tarsal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of metatarsal¹

First recorded in 1730–40; meta- + tarsal

Example Sentences

Just months before the 2006 World Cup, the former Manchester United forward once again fractured a metatarsal bone in the same foot.

From BBC

His left knee is the most important body part in British sport since David Beckham's metatarsal.

From BBC

A joint that is becoming cricket's version of David Beckham's metatarsal and will be cut open, hopefully fixed and sealed back up by the end of next week.

From BBC

Madrid said exams showed that the France player has “an incomplete stress fracture in the second metatarsal of the left foot.”

From Washington Times

It was perhaps understandable but England's captain never looked fully fit despite recovering from a broken metatarsal in time for the World Cup in Japan in 2002.

From BBC