tibia

noun

tib·​ia ˈti-bē-ə 

plural tibiae ˈti-bē-ˌē 

-bē-ˌī

also tibias

1

: the inner and usually larger of the two bones of the vertebrate hind or lower limb between the knee and ankle

2

: the fourth joint of the leg of an insect between the femur and tarsus

tibial

ˈti-bē-əl 

adjective

Examples of tibia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bella's X-rays revealed the mystery: Two femurs, two tibias, two fibulas and nine toes. —James Powel, USA TODAY, 2 May 2024

Part of the fossil, which measures about 32 inches, is believed to be the tibia, or shin bone, of a 10-foot-tall, 3,500-pound dinosaur that scientists are calling Teen Rex. —Livia Albeck-Ripka, New York Times, 4 June 2024

Loading your audio article WASHINGTON — Keita Bates-Diop will miss the rest of the season because of a stress fracture of the right tibia, the Nets announced on Wednesday. —C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2024

The tibia from the specimen was roughly 32 inches long. —Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin

First Known Use

circa 1706, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

tibia

noun

tib·​ia ˈtib-ē-ə 

plural tibiae -ē-ˌē 

-ē-ˌī

also tibias

1

: the inner and usually larger of the two bones of the vertebrate leg that is located between the knee and the ankle

called also shinbone

2

: the fourth joint of the leg of an insect between the femur and the tarsus

tibial

-ē-əl 

adjective

Medical Definition

tibia

noun

tib·​ia ˈtib-ē-ə 

plural tibiae -ē-ˌē  -ē-ˌī  also tibias

: the inner and usually larger of the two bones of the leg between the knee and ankle that articulates above with the femur and below with the talus

called also shinbone