dorsal

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈdɔɹ.səl/ UK /ˈdɔː.səl/ See IPA manual

Freq #36930

Meanings

1

adj
belonging to or on or near the back or upper surface of an animal or organ or part

The dorsal fin is the vertical fin on the back of a fish and certain marine mammals.
2

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

Near-synonyms: altar screen, rood screen (not always different).
3

adj
facing away from the axis of an organ or organism
4

adj
With respect to, or concerning the side in which the backbone is located, or the analogous side of an invertebrate.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 noun · a hanging, usually of rich... altar screenrood screen

3 adj · facing away from the axis... abaxial

Opposites

ventral

Word family

Derived forms anteriodorsalanterodorsalapicodorsalbasidorsalbidorsalcaudodorsalcentrodorsalcervicodorsalcraniodorsaldistodorsaldorsalisationdorsalise

Related forms dossier endorse indorse

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

dorsal fin
a fin positioned along an aquatic animal's back

Adjective + noun

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.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# dorsal

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈdɔɹ.səl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈdɔː.səl/
**Frequency rank:** 36930

## Meanings
1. belonging to or on or near the back or upper surface of an animal or organ or part
2. A hanging, usually of rich stuff, at the back of a throne, altar, etc.
3. facing away from the axis of an organ or organism
4. With respect to, or concerning the side in which the backbone is located, or the analogous side of an invertebrate.

## Examples
- The dorsal fin is the vertical fin on the back of a fish and certain marine mammals.
- Near-synonyms: altar screen, rood screen (not always different).

## Antonyms
- ventral

## Derived Forms
- anteriodorsal
- anterodorsal
- apicodorsal
- basidorsal
- bidorsal
- caudodorsal
- centrodorsal
- cervicodorsal
- craniodorsal
- distodorsal
- dorsalisation
- dorsalise

## Related Forms
- dossier
- endorse
- indorse

## 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.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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