hyoid bone

noun

|Updated on: 16 Jul 2018

Definition of hyoid bone

: a U-shaped bone or complex of bones that is situated between the base of the tongue and the larynx and that supports the tongue, the larynx, and their muscles — called also hyoid

Recent Examples of hyoid bone from the Web

Living birds, by contrast, have a wide diversity of hyoid bones that allow their mouths to do any number of things.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Dinosaurs Could Barely Use Their Tongues," 20 June 2018
More specifically, the scientists studied the dinosaurs’ delicate hyoid bones, which anchor the tongue to the mouth.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Actually, T. Rex Probably Couldn’t Stick Out Its Tongue," 22 June 2018
With their simple hyoid bones and cumbersome bodies, taking flight may have been a way for dinosaurs to eat more efficiently.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Dinosaurs Could Barely Use Their Tongues," 20 June 2018
An amplifying hyoid bone in their throats gives these famously loud monkeys their volume.

— National Geographic, "Striking Pictures of Mexico's Wildlife for Cinco de Mayo," 6 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hyoid bone.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of hyoid bone

New Latin hyoides, from Greek hyoeidēs shaped like the letter upsilon (Υ, υ), being the hyoid bone, from y, hy upsilon

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1811

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

hyoid bone

noun

medical Definition of hyoid bone

: a U-shaped bone or complex of bones that is situated between the base of the tongue and the larynx and that supports the tongue, the larynx, and their muscles — called also hyoid, lingual bone