Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

odontoid process

noun odon·toid process \ ō-ˈdän-ˌtȯid- \

Definition of odontoid process

: a toothlike process projecting from the anterior end of the centrum of the axis vertebra on which the atlas vertebra rotates

First Known Use of odontoid process

1755

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

Medical Dictionary

odontoid process

noun

medical Definition of odontoid process

: dens

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up odontoid process? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

WORD OF THE DAY

satiety

play

fullness to the point of excess

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. hogwash 'nonsense, balderdash'

  2. probity 'adherence to the highest principles and ideals'

  3. sequacious 'intellectually servile'

  4. inadmissible 'not capable of being allowed'

  5. oligarch, pejorative 'a member a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

odontoid process

Test Your Vocabulary

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

  • alphabet-pasta-spelling-help
  • Which is the correct spelling?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games