amphicoelous

adjective

am·​phi·​coe·​lous
variants or less commonly amphicelous or amphycoelous
-¦sēləs
: biconcave
used of vertebrae (as those of certain reptiles) having both the anterior and posterior surfaces of the centrum concave

Word History

Etymology

Late Greek amphikoilos doubly concave, from Greek amphi- + koilos hollow

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of amphicoelous was in 1866

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near amphicoelous

Cite this Entry

“Amphicoelous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amphicoelous. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!