vertebra

play

noun ver·te·bra \ ˈvər-tə-brə , -ˌbrā \

Definition of vertebra

plural vertebrae play \ˈvər-tə-ˌbrā, -(ˌ)brē, -brə\ or vertebras

:one of the bony or cartilaginous segments composing the spinal column, consisting in some lower vertebrates of several distinct elements which never become united, and in higher vertebrates having a short more or less cylindrical body whose ends articulate by pads of elastic or cartilaginous tissue with those of adjacent vertebrae and a bony arch that encloses the spinal cord

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Recent Examples of vertebra from the Web

He was eventually diagnosed with two ruptured vertebrae, and was prescribed Percodan and Vicodin.

— kevin litten, NOLA.com, "Council candidate Seth Bloom: I struggled with opioid addiction," 24 Aug. 2017
One person inside perished while a second occupant endured a fractured pelvis, ribs and vertebrae and a collapsed lung.

— linda trischitta, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Driver convicted of DUI manslaughter charged in second case, 25 years later," 24 Aug. 2017
Instead, he was taken for a CT scan at the Navy base hospital where, Hadi related, doctors discovered a growing swelling in the disc between his L4 and L5 vertebrae from a decade-old degenerative disease.

— carol rosenberg, miamiherald, "Alleged al-Qaida commander, complaining of back pain, shuns court," 14 Aug. 2017
Orr retired in January because of a spinal condition in which the vertebra at the top of his neck is not fully formed.

— dave birkett, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Lions seem unlikely to add LB Zach Orr," 30 July 2017
The hands, feet and vertebrae were intact, and the skull was still there, but the rest had been picked clean.

— benjamin preston, Fortune, "A 9-Day Journey Along the Most Controversial Strip of Land in Trump’s America," 24 July 2017
A five-hour surgery removed a disk and fused two vertebrae together.

— joe davidson, sacbee, "‘Please, God. Don’t let me be paralyzed.’ Olympian Nieto sets high bar: Walk the aisle," 14 July 2017
Geb also said that his son fell from the roof of his parents' home in December while cleaning it and suffered a cracked vertebra.

— Philly.com, "Former Eagles punter Runager found dead in car," 4 July 2017
The team also found 32 severed neck vertebrae from individuals who had been sacrificed inside the temple.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Aztec “Skull Tower” Contains Remains of Women and Children," 3 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of vertebra

Latin, joint, vertebra, from vertere to turn

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First Known Use: 1578

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VERTEBRA Defined for English Language Learners

vertebra

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noun

Definition of vertebra for English Language Learners

: one of the small bones that are linked together to form the backbone

VERTEBRA Defined for Kids

vertebra

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noun ver·te·bra \ ˈvər-tə-brə \

Definition of vertebra for Students

plural vertebrae \-ˌbrā, -brē\

:one of the bony sections making up the backbone

Word Root of vertebra

The Latin word vertere, meaning “to turn” or “to change,” and its form versus give us the roots vert and vers. Words from the Latin vertere have something to do with turning or changing. Anything versatile, or able to do or be used for many different things, can change its task easily. A vertebra is a bone in the spine that allows an animal to turn its head or body. To avert is to turn away. To divert is to turn aside onto a new path. To revert is to turn back to a former way of being.

Medical Dictionary

vertebra

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noun ver·te·bra \ ˈvərt-ə-brə \

medical Definition of vertebra

plural vertebrae play \-ˌbrā, -(ˌ)brē\ or vertebras

:any of the bony or cartilaginous segments that make up the spinal column and that have a short more or less cylindrical body whose ends articulate by pads of elastic or cartilaginous tissue with those of adjacent vertebrae and a bony arch that encloses the spinal cord