: a bone of the part of the hand or forefoot between the carpus and the phalanges that typically contains five more or less elongated bones when all the digits are present
Examples of metacarpal in a Sentence
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Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 13 June 2024
Merely two hours after the game it was announced that Barnes had suffered a fracture to his third metacarpal bone in his left hand and is now out indefinitely.
—Esfandiar Baraheni, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024
Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Dec. 2024
The bones used are those of cattle—in particular, metacarpals and metatarsals, which are found in the lower limbs.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
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Adjective
Prison officials said the metacarpal intra-articular base fracture, sometimes called a Bennett or Rolando fracture, to Templin’s thumb was caused by Templin repeatedly punching a wall.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 13 June 2024
Merely two hours after the game it was announced that Barnes had suffered a fracture to his third metacarpal bone in his left hand and is now out indefinitely.
—Esfandiar Baraheni, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024
Noun
All of the bones are either metacarpals or metatarsals, which are part of cows’ lower legs.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Dec. 2024
The bones used are those of cattle—in particular, metacarpals and metatarsals, which are found in the lower limbs.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for metacarpal
Dictionary Entries Near metacarpal
Cite this Entry
“Metacarpal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metacarpal. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
metacarpal
1 of 2 adjective
meta·car·pal
ˌmet-ə-ˈkär-pəl 
: of, relating to, or being the part of the hand or front foot or a bone of this part that is between the carpal bones and the bones of the fingers or toes
metacarpal
2 of 2 noun
: a metacarpal bone
Medical Definition
metacarpal
1 of 2 adjective
meta·car·pal
ˌmet-ə-ˈkär-pəl
: of, relating to, or being the metacarpus or a metacarpal
metacarpal
2 of 2 noun
: any bone of the metacarpus of the human hand or the front foot in quadrupeds
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