spinal

adjective

spi·nal | \ ˈspī-nᵊl

Definition of spinal

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : of, relating to, or situated near the spinal column

2a : of, relating to, or affecting the spinal cord spinal reflexes

b : having the spinal cord functionally isolated (as by surgical section) from the brain experiments on spinal animals

3 : of, relating to, or resembling a spine

spinal

noun

Definition of spinal (Entry 2 of 2)

: a spinal anesthetic

Examples of spinal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

In June 2017, my father sustained a spinal-cord injury while surfing in Nicaragua, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. — Nash Jenkins, Time, "Remembering Conservative Thinker Charles Krauthammer, 68," 28 June 2018 Jayden suffers from spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic disease that affects the part of the nervous system that controls voluntary muscle movement. — Mari A. Schaefer, Philly.com, "Second family challenges CHOP decision to remove child from life support," 16 May 2018 Most of that sales growth came from Spinraza, a treatment for spinal muscular atrophy that launched last year. — Charley Grant, WSJ, "Biogen Investors Are Losing Patience," 24 Apr. 2018 Novartis added to its expanding gene-therapy business by agreeing to pay $8.7bn for AveXis, which specialises in treatments for spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic condition that causes progressive muscle wasting. — The Economist, "Business this week," 12 Apr. 2018 His career was lost at sea, dragged down by a slew of personal and health problems that included four back surgeries, the last a spinal fusion in April 2017. — Sam Farmer, latimes.com, "Being healthy enough to play in the U.S. Open is what floats Tiger Woods' boat," 12 June 2018 But the ultimate closer in the history of the game, playing just his eighth tournament since his comeback from spinal-fusion surgery 13 months ago, faded down the stretch. — Edgar Thompson, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Webb Simpson holds off Tiger Woods, golf's strongest field to win The Players Championship," 14 May 2018 Woods was making his eighth start of the season just weeks after the one-year anniversary of his spinal fusion, which was his fourth back surgery. — New York Times, "Dustin Johnson Shoots 66, Joining a Crowd in the Players Championship Lead," 10 May 2018 Four back surgeries later, including a spinal fusion that finally worked, Tiger isn’t quite roaring again, but there is an unmistakable growl in the warm August air. — Tara Sullivan, BostonGlobe.com, "Nobody brings out the roars like Tiger," 6 Apr. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

At 6 months old, Stevie Browning was diagnosed with type 1 spinal muscular atrophy — the most severe — and was predicted to live between eight months and two years, said his mother, Samantha Angell. — Tessa Weinberg, chicagotribune.com, "Northwestern students give 'freedom' by retrofitting motorized cars for kids with disabilities," 1 July 2018 The drug, known as AVXS-101, could be approved for Type 1 spinal muscular atrophy by the end of this year, according to Wells Fargo’s Jim Birchenough, whose price target of $171 implies another 34 percent upside for the shares. — Bailey Lipschultz, Bloomberg.com, "Biotech Stock Draws Skeptics Even as It Rallies to New Highs," 7 Mar. 2018 The report, published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine, identified a major cause of miscarriages, in addition to heart, spinal, kidney and cleft palate problems in newborn babies. — Rob Taylor, WSJ, "Spread the News: Vitamin B3 in Vegemite Prevents Some Birth Defects," 10 Aug. 2017

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