tibia

[ tib-ee-uh ]

noun

, plural tib·i·ae [tib, -ee-ee], tib·i·as.

1. Anatomy. the inner of the two bones of the leg, that extend from the knee to the ankle and articulate with the femur and the talus; shinbone.
2. Zoology.
   1. a corresponding bone in a horse or other hoofed quadruped, extending from the stifle to the hock.
   2. (in insects) the fourth segment of the leg, between the femur and tarsus.

tibia

/ ˈtɪbɪə /

noun

1. See fibula
   Also calledshinbone the inner and thicker of the two bones of the human leg between the knee and ankle Compare fibula
2. the corresponding bone in other vertebrates
3. the fourth segment of an insect's leg, lying between the femur and the tarsus

tibia

/ tĭb′ē-ə /

1. The larger of the two bones of the lower leg or lower portion of the hind leg.
2. See more at skeleton

Derived Forms

• ˈtibial, adjective

Other Words From

• tibi·al adjective
• post·tibi·al adjective
• pre·tibi·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tibia¹

First recorded in 1685–95, tibia is from the Latin word tībia literally, reed pipe

Word History and Origins

Origin of tibia¹

C16: from Latin: leg, pipe

Example Sentences

He missed almost all of July with a stress reaction in his right tibia, returned for one appearance and was sent down to the Class AAA Rochester Red Wings.

From Washington Post

An x-ray two hours later confirms my hunch: my tibia (the big bone behind the shin) is snapped clean in two.

From The Daily Beast

With a single powerful blow of a starting-bar the Rough Red broke one of the bones of his tibia.

From Project Gutenberg

On the tibia of the first pair of legs are two long special sensory hairs set in little pits.

From Project Gutenberg

As an adaptation to saltation the tibia would elongate at the expense of the femur and the index would be more than 100.

From Project Gutenberg

In a moth called the ghost (Hepialus Humuli), the posterior tibia of the male is densely bearded, but not of the female.

From Project Gutenberg

A coronet or semicoronet of fixed spines observable at the apex of the posterior Tibia in Fulgora candelaria, &c.

From Project Gutenberg