Meanings
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1
adj
relating to the lower back between the ribs and the pelvis
The spinal cord ends near the first or second lumbar vertebra in an adult.
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2
noun
a vertebra of the lower back, or the lumbar region as a whole
The surgeon counted down from the last thoracic vertebra to identify the first lumbar.
Thesaurus
Etymology
From Latin lumbarius, 'of the loins,' from lumbus, 'loin,' plus the relational suffix -aris. Medical and anatomical English uses lumbar for the five vertebrae and surrounding region between the rib cage and pelvis.