tarsus

noun

tar·​sus ˈtär-səs 

plural tarsi ˈtär-ˌsī  -ˌsē 

1

: the part of the foot of a vertebrate between the metatarsus and the leg

also : the small bones that support this part of the foot and include bones of the ankle, heel, and arch

2

: the tarsal plate of the eyelid

3

: the distal part of the limb of an arthropod

4

: tarsometatarsus

Examples of tarsus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If a pigeon belongs to somebody, the owner puts a band on the pigeon’s tarsus (the lower leg, just above the foot) to claim and identify it. —Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 5 May 2025

It can be easily controlled to perform a gripping motion akin to an insect tarsus (i.e., wrapping around the object) for handling various objects. —IEEE Spectrum, 19 May 2023

Meanwhile, wing length showed a mean increase of 1.3%, with the species showing the fastest declines in tarsus length also showing the most rapid gains in wing length. —Katie Hunt, CNN, 4 Dec. 2019

The scientists measured the birds’ overall body size, body mass, wingspan and the length of a lower leg bone known as the tarsus, which shrank by 2.4 percent across species. —NBC News, 5 Dec. 2019

In particular, the length of the tarsus or lower leg bone, shrank by 2.4%. —Katie Hunt, CNN, 4 Dec. 2019

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek tarsos wickerwork mat, flat of the foot, ankle, edge of the eyelid; akin to Greek tersesthai to become dry — more at thirst

First Known Use

circa 1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tarsus

• parsis
• catharsis
• metatarsus

Kids Definition

tarsus

noun

tar·​sus ˈtär-səs 

plural tarsi -ˌsī 

-ˌsē

1

: the part of the foot of a vertebrate between the metatarsus and the leg

also : the small bones that support this part of the foot and include bones of the ankle, heel, and arch

2

: the lower and longest part of a bird's leg

3

: the part of the limb of an arthropod (as an insect) most distant from the body

Medical Definition

tarsus

noun

tar·​sus ˈtär-səs 

plural tarsi -ˌsī  -ˌsē 

1

: the part of the foot of a vertebrate between the metatarsus and the leg

also : the small bones supporting this part of the limb that include the three cuneiform bones and the cuboid in a distal row and the navicular, calcaneus, and talus in a proximal row

2

: tarsal plate

Geographical Definition

Tarsus

geographical name

Tar·​sus ˈtär-səs 

city in southern Turkey near the Cilician Gates population 187,508

Note: Tarsus was the capital of ancient Cilicia.