pterygoid

1 of 2

adjective

pter·​y·​goid ˈter-ə-ˌgȯid How to pronounce pterygoid (audio)
: of, relating to, or lying in the region of the inferior part of the sphenoid bone of the vertebrate skull

pterygoid

2 of 2

noun

: a pterygoid part (such as a bone, muscle, or nerve)

Examples of pterygoid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
After identifying the companion piece and putting the two together, Benito, Field, and colleagues concluded the full structure was a particularly delicate part of the upper palate, a bone called the pterygoid that is key to the jointed upper beak. Bygretchen Vogel, science.org, 30 Nov. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

New Latin pterygoides, from Greek pterygoeidēs, literally, shaped like a wing, from pteryg-, pteryx wing; akin to Greek pteron wing — more at feather

First Known Use

Adjective

1694, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1822, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pterygoid was in 1694

Dictionary Entries Near pterygoid

Cite this Entry

“Pterygoid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pterygoid. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

pterygoid

1 of 2 adjective
pter·​y·​goid ˈter-ə-ˌgȯid How to pronounce pterygoid (audio)
: of, relating to, being, or lying in the region of the inferior part of the sphenoid bone

pterygoid

2 of 2 noun
: a pterygoid part (as a pterygoid muscle or nerve)
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