tibia
Americannoun
plural
tibiae, tibias-
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.
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Zoology.
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a corresponding bone in a horse or other hoofed quadruped, extending from the stifle to the hock.
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(in insects) the fourth segment of the leg, between the femur and tarsus.
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noun
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Also called: shinbone. the inner and thicker of the two bones of the human leg between the knee and ankle Compare fibula
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the corresponding bone in other vertebrates
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the fourth segment of an insect's leg, lying between the femur and the tarsus
Other Word Forms
- posttibial adjective
- pretibial adjective
- tibial adjective
Etymology
Origin of tibia
First recorded in 1685–95, tibia is from the Latin word tībia literally, reed pipe
Compare meaning
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Vocabulary lists containing tibia
Human Anatomy and Physiology - High School
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Human Anatomy and Physiology - Middle School
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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.
The 15-time major winner needed pins inserted in his foot and ankle and a rod in his tibia as well as a follow-up surgery in 2023.
From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026
In addition to the previously reported complex tibia fracture, Vonn said Monday that she also fractured her fibular head and tibia plateau on her left leg during the crash.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2026
“Basically, I had a complex tibia fracture. I also fractured my fibular head, my tibial plateau — just kind of everything was in pieces,” she said.
From Salon • Feb. 23, 2026
She was airlifted off the piste and diagnosed with a complex tibia fracture in her left leg.
From BBC • Feb. 23, 2026
An infection spiked up and he was rushed to the emergency room downtown where a two-inch section of his tibia and fibula was removed.
From "Hole in My Life" by Jack Gantos
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.
