navicular

1 of 2

adjective

na·​vic·​u·​lar nə-ˈvi-kyə-lər 

1

: shaped like a boat

a navicular bone

2

: of, relating to, or involving a navicular bone

navicular disease

navicular

2 of 2

noun

: a navicular bone:

a

: one situated on the big-toe side of the tarsus in humans

called also scaphoid

b

: scaphoid sense 2

c

: one situated in the hoof of a horse behind the coffin bone

Examples of navicular in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The 7-foot center missed the entirety of his first two NBA seasons from 2014-16 after breaking the navicular bone in his right foot. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2024

In particular, the study points to one of the most underappreciated joints in the human body, the union between the navicular and medial cuneiform, which is crucial to the recoil. —Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 31 May 2023

Noun

The navicular is covered by cartilage and lacks a rich blood supply, causing a slow recovery process. —David Woods, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Nov. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English naviculare, from Latin navicula boat, diminutive of navis

Noun

New Latin (os) naviculare a navicular bone

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

navicular

1 of 2 noun

na·​vic·​u·​lar nə-ˈvik-yə-lər 

variants or navicular bone

: a boat-shaped bone:

a

: the one of the seven tarsal bones of the human foot that is situated on the big-toe side between the talus and the cuneiform bones

called also scaphoid

b

: scaphoid sense 2

c

: a small bone enclosed within the hoof of the horse behind the junction of the coffin bone and short pastern bone

navicular

2 of 2 adjective

1

: resembling or having the shape of a boat

navicular cells

2

: of, relating to, or involving a navicular bone

navicular fractures