scapula

noun scap·u·la \ ˈska-pyə-lə \

Definition of scapula

plural scapulae play \ˈska-pyə-ˌlē, -ˌlī\ or scapulas

:either of a pair of large triangular bones lying one in each dorsal lateral part of the thorax, being the principal bone of the corresponding half of the shoulder girdle, and articulating with the corresponding clavicle or coracoid — called also shoulder blade

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Recent Examples of scapula from the Web

Prosise missed the final six games of the regular season and the two playoff games with a fractured scapula in 2016.

— geoffrey c. arnold, OregonLive.com, "Seattle Seahawks RBs Thomas Rawls, C.J. Prosise won't play in Friday's preseason game," 25 Aug. 2017
Harvey has been sidelined since June with a stress injury to the scapula bone in his right shoulder. ...

— adry torres, courant.com, "Pollock Homer In 10th Lifts D'Backs Past Mets," 22 Aug. 2017
When looking for a potentially sick or starving whale, Mate and his colleagues look for protruding vertebrae or scapula that can be seen through the whale's skin.

— National Geographic, "Gray Whale Swims With Beachgoers In Incredible Aerial Video," 9 Aug. 2017
Just in the last two weeks Zack Wheeler (right biceps tendinitis) and Matt Harvey (stress injury, right scapula) have been shelved.

— connor grossman, SI.com, "Starting Nine: Cubs have more than a basestealing problem; Mets have more injuries," 28 June 2017
Also, be sure to push the floor away from you with the grounded arm to stabilize the scapula.

— emily abbate, Esquire, "How to Squeeze in a Full-Body Workout in Just 10 Minutes," 27 June 2017
Last week, Matt Harvey was found to have a stress injury in the scapula bone in his right shoulder.

— james wagner, New York Times, "Another Mets Pitcher, Zack Wheeler, Goes on the Disabled List," 21 June 2017
The driver suffered a broken scapula, clavicle and nicked lung.

— Elgin Courier-News, "South Elgin man gets 8 years in prison for shooting tow-truck driver," 16 June 2017
Matt Harvey from Fitch-Groton is expected to miss several weeks after an MRI and CT scan revealed a stress injury to the scapula bone in his right shoulder.

— tom yantz, courant.com, "On The Fly: Could Celtics Be Dealing Their No. 1 Pick?," 16 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of scapula

New Latin, from Latin, shoulder blade, shoulder

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1578

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

scapula

noun scap·u·la \ ˈskap-yə-lə \

medical Definition of scapula

plural scapulae play \-ˌlē, -ˌlī\ or scapulas

:either of a pair of large essentially flat and triangular bones lying one in each dorsolateral part of the thorax, being the principal bone of the corresponding half of the shoulder girdle, divided on the posterior surface into the supraspinous and infraspinous fossae by an oblique transverse bony process or spine terminating in the acromion, having a hook-shaped bony coracoid process on the anterior surface of the superior border of the bone, providing articulation for the humerus, and articulating with the corresponding clavicle — called also shoulder blade