Dorsal

//ˈdɔː.səl// adj, noun

adj, noun ·Common ·High school level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A hanging, usually of rich stuff, at the back of a throne, altar, etc.

    "Near-synonyms: altar screen, rood screen (not always different)"

  2. 2
    Any of the longitudinal series of plates that encircle the body, excluding the ventral scales.
  3. 3
    A sound produced using the dorsum of the tongue.
Adjective
  1. 1
    With respect to, or concerning the side in which the backbone is located, or the analogous side of an invertebrate.; Relating to the top surface of the foot or hand.
  2. 2
    With respect to, or concerning the side in which the backbone is located, or the analogous side of an invertebrate.; Produced using the dorsum of the tongue.
  3. 3
    Having only one sharp side.
  4. 4
    Relating to the surface naturally inferior, as of a leaf.
  5. 5
    Relating to the surface naturally superior, as of a creeping hepatic moss.
Adjective
  1. 1
    facing away from the axis of an organ or organism wordnet
  2. 2
    belonging to or on or near the back or upper surface of an animal or organ or part wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
labialabaxialabaxialaccentedaltar screenalveolar

Example

More examples

"One of my required classes in college included dissecting the entire dorsal cavity of a pig. It was disgusting."

Etymology

From Late Middle English dorsal/dorsale, borrowing from Medieval Latin dorsālis (“of or relating to the back”), from dorsum (“the back”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix); equivalent to dorsum + -al.

Related phrases

dorsal body hormonedorsal findorsal hooddorsal nasal arterydorsal platedorsal platingdorsal rootdorsal root gangliondorsal slitdorsal striatumdorsal vessellumbo-dorsal

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.