thorax

noun

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tho·rax | \ ˈthȯr-ˌaks

plural thoraxes or thoraces\ ˈthȯr-ə-ˌsēz

Definition of thorax

1 : the part of the vertebrate body between the neck and the abdomen If you count the vertebrae in the necks and thoraxes of mice and chickens, you will find that a mouse has seven neck and 13 thoracic vertebrae, a chicken 14 and seven, respectively.— Matt Ridley also : thoracic cavity The thorax is evaluated for fluid at the flanks and for pneumothorax anteriorly. — Christoper L. Moore

2 : the middle of the three chief divisions of the body of an insect Of nearly a million described species of insects, none has a biramous appendage, and nearly all have exactly three pairs of limbs on the thorax.— Stephen Jay Gould This haunting pitch issues from drum tissue stretched over the thorax of the male annual cicada …— Ted Williams also : the corresponding part of a crustacean or an arachnid The brown recluse spider … is brown and has fuzzy body hair and a dark violin- or pear-shaped band on the dorsum of its thorax. — Peter F. Weller

Examples of thorax in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Health authorities said the dead included Jack Pintado, 22, who was shot 11 times, including in the head, and Jordan Sotelo, 24, who was hit four times in the thorax near his heart. — Franklin Briceño And Christine Armario, USA TODAY, "Peru's interim president resigns as nation plunges into crisis," 16 Nov. 2020 Health authorities said the dead included Jack Pintado, 22, who was shot 11 times, including in the head, and Jordan Sotelo, 24, who was hit four times in the thorax near his heart. — Franklin Briceño And Christine Armario, USA TODAY, "Peru's interim president resigns as nation plunges into crisis," 16 Nov. 2020 Health authorities said the dead included Jack Pintado, 22, who was shot 11 times, including in the head, and Jordan Sotelo, 24, who was hit four times in the thorax near his heart. — Franklin Briceño And Christine Armario, USA TODAY, "Peru's interim president resigns as nation plunges into crisis," 16 Nov. 2020 Health authorities said the dead included Jack Pintado, 22, who was shot 11 times, including in the head, and Jordan Sotelo, 24, who was hit four times in the thorax near his heart. — Franklin Briceño And Christine Armario, USA TODAY, "Peru's interim president resigns as nation plunges into crisis," 16 Nov. 2020 Health authorities said the dead included Jack Pintado, 22, who was shot 11 times, including in the head, and Jordan Sotelo, 24, who was hit four times in the thorax near his heart. — Franklin Briceño And Christine Armario, USA TODAY, "Peru's interim president resigns as nation plunges into crisis," 16 Nov. 2020 Health authorities said the dead included Jack Pintado, 22, who was shot 11 times, including in the head, and Jordan Sotelo, 24, who was hit four times in the thorax near his heart. — Arkansas Online, "Peru's interim president resigns as chaos embroils nation," 15 Nov. 2020 Health authorities said the dead included Jack Pintado, 22, who was shot 11 times, including in the head, and Jordan Sotelo, 24, who was hit four times in the thorax near his heart. — Franklin Briceño And Christine Armario, The Christian Science Monitor, "Why Peru ousted two presidents in one week," 15 Nov. 2020 Health authorities said the dead included Jack Pintado, 22, who was shot 11 times, including in the head, and Jordan Sotelo, 24, who was hit four times in the thorax near his heart. — The Salt Lake Tribune, "Peru’s interim president announces resignation after deadly national upheaval," 15 Nov. 2020

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

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Last Updated

14 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Thorax.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thorax. Accessed 5 Mar. 2021.

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More Definitions for thorax

thorax

noun

English Language Learners Definition of thorax

technical

: the part of an animal's body between the neck and the waist

: the middle section of an insect's body

See the full definition for thorax in the English Language Learners Dictionary

thorax

noun

tho·rax | \ ˈthȯr-ˌaks

plural thoraxes or thoraces\ ˈthȯr-ə-ˌsēz \

Kids Definition of thorax

1 : the part of the body of a mammal that lies between the neck and the abdomen and contains the heart and lungs

2 : the middle of the three main divisions of the body of an insect

thorax

noun

tho·rax | \ ˈthō(ə)r-ˌaks, ˈthȯ(ə)r-

plural thoraxes or thoraces\ ˈthōr-ə-ˌsēz, ˈthȯr-

Medical Definition of thorax

1 : the part of the mammalian body that is situated between the neck and the abdomen and supported by the ribs, costal cartilages, and sternum also : thoracic cavity

2 : the middle of the three chief divisions of the body of an insect also : the corresponding part of a crustacean or an arachnid

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