long bone

noun

: any of the elongated bones supporting a vertebrate limb and consisting of an essentially cylindrical shaft that contains bone marrow and ends in enlarged heads for articulation with other bones compare diaphysis, epiphysis

Examples of long bone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It's most often found in the long bones of the legs, and sometimes the arms. —Phoebe Wall Howard, Detroit Free Press, 16 Mar. 2024

There is also a limited selection of pastas and Niman-ranch long bone pork rib chops. —Endia Fontanez, The Arizona Republic, 29 Apr. 2024

See it In the burial, researchers found long bones, including femurs, tibias, rays and ulnae, placed in their own sector. —Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2024

Examples of long bones include the bones of the leg and arm — like the femur and the fibula — as well as the bones of the fingers and toes. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 3 Nov. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1697, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

long bone

noun

: one of the bones supporting a limb of a vertebrate and consisting of a long nearly cylinder-shaped shaft that contains bone marrow and has enlarged ends

Medical Definition

long bone

noun

: any of the elongated bones supporting a vertebrate limb and consisting of an essentially cylindrical shaft that contains bone marrow and ends in enlarged heads for articulation with other bones