tarsus

C2 Topic:The Human Body

US /ˈtɑɹsəs/ UK /ˈtɑːsəs/ See IPA manual

Freq #42312

Meanings

1

noun
anatomy: the ankle region of a vertebrate foot between the leg and metatarsus, including its small bones

The injury damaged several bones of the tarsus.
2

noun
zoology: the distal limb segment of an arthropod, or the exposed lower leg segment of a bird

A narrow identification band encircled the bird's tarsus.
3

noun
anatomy: the dense connective-tissue plate that supports an eyelid

Scar tissue had stiffened the upper eyelid's tarsus.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · anatomy: the ankle region... ankle region

2 noun · zoology: the distal limb... distal limb segment

3 noun · anatomy: the dense... tarsal plate

Word family

Forms tarsaltarsi

Derived forms tarsalmetatarsuspretarsus

Related forms talus ankle eyelid

Etymology

From New Latin tarsus, from Ancient Greek tarsos, which meant a wickerwork mat, the flat of the foot or ankle, and the edge of the eyelid. The anatomical senses share the image of a flat supporting framework; the word is unrelated to the city of Tarsus.

Topics

The Human Body

External links

# tarsus

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈtɑɹsəs/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈtɑːsəs/
**Frequency rank:** 42312

## Meanings
1. anatomy: the ankle region of a vertebrate foot between the leg and metatarsus, including its small bones
2. zoology: the distal limb segment of an arthropod, or the exposed lower leg segment of a bird
3. anatomy: the dense connective-tissue plate that supports an eyelid

## Examples
- The injury damaged several bones of the tarsus.
- A narrow identification band encircled the bird's tarsus.
- Scar tissue had stiffened the upper eyelid's tarsus.

## Synonyms
- ankle region
- tarsal plate

## Derived Forms
- tarsal
- metatarsus
- pretarsus

## Related Forms
- talus
- ankle
- eyelid

## Etymology
From New Latin tarsus, from Ancient Greek tarsos, which meant a wickerwork mat, the flat of the foot or ankle, and the edge of the eyelid. The anatomical senses share the image of a flat supporting framework; the word is unrelated to the city of Tarsus.

## Topics
- The Human Body

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