diaphysis

1 of 2

noun

: the shaft of a long bone

diaphyseal

2 of 2

adjective

di·​aph·​y·​se·​al dī¦afə¦sēəl How to pronounce diaphyseal (audio)
-¦zē- also ¦dīə¦fizēəl
: of, relating to, or involving a diaphysis

Examples of diaphysis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Bubbly lucent lesions of bone are recalled with the FEGNOMASHIC mnemonic, but when only lucent lesions of the diaphysis are included, a more appropriate mnemonic is FEMALE. — Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 21 Aug. 2012

Word History

Etymology

Noun

New Latin, from Greek, spinous process of the tibia, from diaphyesthai to grow between, from dia- + phyein to bring forth — more at be

Adjective

diaphyseal alteration of diaphysial; diaphysial from New Latin diaphysis + English -al

First Known Use

Noun

1831, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of diaphysis was in 1831

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Diaphysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diaphysis. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on diaphysis

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster