dolichocephalic

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌdɑːlɪkoʊsəˈfælɪk/ UK /ˌdɒlɪkəʊsɪˈfælɪk/ See IPA manual

Freq #232968

Meanings

1

adj
having a head or skull that is relatively long from front to back compared with its width

The domestic rabbit developed a more dolichocephalic skull than its wild relative.
2

noun
historical anthropology: a person classified as having a cephalic index below 75

A nineteenth-century craniologist might have labeled the long-headed specimen a dolichocephalic.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · having a head or skull that... long-headeddolichocranial

2 noun · historical anthropology: a... long-headed person

Opposites

brachycephalic

Word family

Forms dolichocephaly

Derived forms dolichocephaly

Related forms cephalic indexmesocephalicbrachycephaliccraniometry

Etymology

From New Latin dolichocephalus, formed from Greek dolichos, 'long,' + kephale, 'head,' with English -ic. Nineteenth-century anthropologists used cephalic-index categories such as dolichocephalic in racial typologies; modern anatomy retains the descriptive measurement but rejects those simplistic racial conclusions.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style

External links

# dolichocephalic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌdɑːlɪkoʊsəˈfælɪk/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌdɒlɪkəʊsɪˈfælɪk/
**Frequency rank:** 232968

## Meanings
1. having a head or skull that is relatively long from front to back compared with its width
2. historical anthropology: a person classified as having a cephalic index below 75

## Examples
- The domestic rabbit developed a more dolichocephalic skull than its wild relative.
- A nineteenth-century craniologist might have labeled the long-headed specimen a dolichocephalic.

## Synonyms
- long-headed
- dolichocranial

## Antonyms
- brachycephalic

## Derived Forms
- dolichocephaly

## Related Forms
- cephalic index
- mesocephalic
- brachycephalic
- craniometry

## Etymology
From New Latin dolichocephalus, formed from Greek dolichos, 'long,' + kephale, 'head,' with English -ic. Nineteenth-century anthropologists used cephalic-index categories such as dolichocephalic in racial typologies; modern anatomy retains the descriptive measurement but rejects those simplistic racial conclusions.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style

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