meta·tar·sal
ˌme-tə-ˈtär-səl 
: of, relating to, or being the part of the human foot or of the hind foot in quadrupeds between the tarsus and the phalanges that in humans comprises five elongated bones which form the front of the instep and ball of the foot
: a metatarsal bone
Examples of metatarsal in a Sentence
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Trina Gray, Peoplemag, 5 Sep. 2024
The front segments of each chain replicate the phalanges (toe bones) while the segments behind them replicate the metatarsal bones (which run from the base of each toe back to the heel).
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 12 July 2024
Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 12 June 2024
Certain exercises can strengthen the little muscles of your feet (your foot intrinsics) and increase mobility among your metatarsals, a critical group of bones in your feet.
—Genevieve Gyulavary Dpt, Outside Online, 9 Apr. 2023
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Adjective
In addition to bunions and flat feet, our tester often experiences pain in the ball of her right foot — a condition that can be common in older people as the padding in the metatarsal area wears down with age.
—Trina Gray, Peoplemag, 5 Sep. 2024
The front segments of each chain replicate the phalanges (toe bones) while the segments behind them replicate the metatarsal bones (which run from the base of each toe back to the heel).
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 12 July 2024
Noun
The skeleton includes part of the creature’s skull, its entire mandible, two vertebrae, 12 ribs, two gastralia, along with multiple phalanges, metatarsals, and digits.
—Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 12 June 2024
Certain exercises can strengthen the little muscles of your feet (your foot intrinsics) and increase mobility among your metatarsals, a critical group of bones in your feet.
—Genevieve Gyulavary Dpt, Outside Online, 9 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for metatarsal
Dictionary Entries Near metatarsal
Cite this Entry
“Metatarsal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metatarsal. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
metatarsal
1 of 2 adjective
meta·tar·sal
ˌmet-ə-ˈtär-səl
: of, relating to, or being the part of the foot in human beings or of the hind foot in a four-footed animal that is located between the tarsal bones and the toes
metatarsal
2 of 2 noun
: any of the metatarsal bones of which there are five in human beings
Medical Definition
metatarsal
1 of 2 adjective
meta·tar·sal
ˌmet-ə-ˈtär-səl
: of, relating to, or being the part of the human foot or of the hind foot in quadrupeds between the tarsus and the phalanges that in humans comprises five elongated bones which form the front of the instep and ball of the foot
metatarsal
2 of 2 noun
: a metatarsal bone
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