vertebr-

American  

1. a combining form of vertebra.

   vertebral.

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Usage

What does vertebr- mean? Vertebr- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “vertebra” or "vertebral." The vertebrae are the bones in the spinal column. Vertebro- is occasionally used in medical terms, especially in anatomy. Vertebr- comes from Latin vertebra, meaning “(spinal) joint.” The Greek translation of vertebra is spóndylos, meaning “vertebra, joint,” which is the source of the combining form spondylo-. To learn more, check out our Words That Use article on spondylo-. What are variants of vertebr-?Vertebr- is a variant of vertebro-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article on vertebro-.