mas·toid
ˈma-ˌstȯid 
1
: being the process of the temporal bone behind the ear
also
: being any of several bony elements that occupy a similar position in the skull of lower vertebrates
2
: of, relating to, or occurring in the region of the mastoid process
: a mastoid bone or process
Examples of mastoid in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sherri Gordon, Health, 30 Dec. 2024
The surgeon drills through the mastoid bone, creating a path allowing the electrodes to reach the cochlea.
—Kelly Burch Published, Verywell Health, 11 Dec. 2024
The electrodes on the mastoid process recorded brain activity while those on the ear were used as a ground wire.
—IEEE Spectrum, 16 Mar. 2015
If left untreated, the infection could have spread to the air pockets of the mastoid bones, filling them with infected material and creating potentially life-threatening conditions like meningitis or blood clots.
—Jane Recker, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Feb. 2022
But on the right side there was something else: A mass about the size of a strawberry had destroyed much of the mastoid bone just behind her ear.
—New York Times, 31 Mar. 2021
Evidence of perforations were found on both sides of the skull near the mastoid bones (located just behind the ear).
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 Feb. 2022
The surgeon makes an incision behind the ear to expose the mastoid bone.
—Jeremy Hillpot, Discover Magazine, 5 July 2021
From childhood, when a mastoid operation resulted in permanent eardrum damage and hearing loss, she had been fascinated with eyes, watching for cues to amplify what was being said.
—New York Times, 28 June 2022
IEEE Spectrum, 16 Dec. 2023
Insets: enlarged images of the cut marks in the left ear, next to the mastoid.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 Feb. 2022
But cholesteatoma tends to erode the bony wall (scutum) separating the ear canal from the mastoid, and the scutum was intact on both sides of the woman's skull.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 Feb. 2022
A doctor tried to resolve the problem with an operation on the mastoid that left him deaf in one ear.
—Frederick N. Rasmussen, baltimoresun.com, 17 Aug. 2017
Part of the rear of the skull called the mastoid bears some telltale otter traits, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles paleontologist Xiaoming Wang and colleagues write, but the first molar—
—Brian Switek, Smithsonian, 23 Jan. 2017
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Adjective
In severe cases, a surgeon will remove the portion of the mastoid bone that is infected.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 30 Dec. 2024
The surgeon drills through the mastoid bone, creating a path allowing the electrodes to reach the cochlea.
—Kelly Burch Published, Verywell Health, 11 Dec. 2024
The electrodes on the mastoid process recorded brain activity while those on the ear were used as a ground wire.
—IEEE Spectrum, 16 Mar. 2015
If left untreated, the infection could have spread to the air pockets of the mastoid bones, filling them with infected material and creating potentially life-threatening conditions like meningitis or blood clots.
—Jane Recker, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Feb. 2022
But on the right side there was something else: A mass about the size of a strawberry had destroyed much of the mastoid bone just behind her ear.
—New York Times, 31 Mar. 2021
Evidence of perforations were found on both sides of the skull near the mastoid bones (located just behind the ear).
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 Feb. 2022
The surgeon makes an incision behind the ear to expose the mastoid bone.
—Jeremy Hillpot, Discover Magazine, 5 July 2021
From childhood, when a mastoid operation resulted in permanent eardrum damage and hearing loss, she had been fascinated with eyes, watching for cues to amplify what was being said.
—New York Times, 28 June 2022
Noun
More were placed behind the right ear, near the mastoid, which perceives visual sensations.
—IEEE Spectrum, 16 Dec. 2023
Insets: enlarged images of the cut marks in the left ear, next to the mastoid.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 Feb. 2022
But cholesteatoma tends to erode the bony wall (scutum) separating the ear canal from the mastoid, and the scutum was intact on both sides of the woman's skull.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 Feb. 2022
A doctor tried to resolve the problem with an operation on the mastoid that left him deaf in one ear.
—Frederick N. Rasmussen, baltimoresun.com, 17 Aug. 2017
Part of the rear of the skull called the mastoid bears some telltale otter traits, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles paleontologist Xiaoming Wang and colleagues write, but the first molar—
—Brian Switek, Smithsonian, 23 Jan. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Mastoid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mastoid. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mastoid
1 of 2 adjective
mas·toid
ˈmas-ˌtȯid
: of, relating to, or being the mastoid process
also
: occurring in the region of the mastoid process
mastoid
2 of 2 noun
: a mastoid bone or process
Medical Definition
mastoid
1 of 2 adjective
mas·toid
ˈmas-ˌtȯid
: of, relating to, or being the mastoid process
also
: occurring in the region of the mastoid process
mastoid
2 of 2 noun
: a mastoid bone or process
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