vertebra

noun

ver·​te·​bra ˈvər-tə-brə  -ˌbrā 

plural vertebrae 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

Examples of vertebra in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The vertebra was located in a layer of rock created during the Late Cretaceous, just before the dinosaurs went extinct. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2025

The 29-year-old suffered a concussion and his own fractured vertebra, though less serious than Landa’s injury. —Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 19 May 2025

While doing some unrelated research years after finding the fossil in storage, Bourque came across an image of a tegu vertebra. —Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 13 May 2025

Oldest tegu in North America The road to discovering the new species, and new genus, began when Jason Bourque, the study author and fossil preparator for the Florida Museum of Natural History, came across an unidentified vertebra in storage. —Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 12 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, joint, vertebra, from vertere to turn

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

vertebra

noun

ver·​te·​bra ˈvərt-ə-brə 

plural vertebrae -ˌbrā  -brē 

-brə

or vertebras

: one of the sections of bone or cartilage that make up the spinal column

Medical Definition

vertebra

noun

ver·​te·​bra ˈvərt-ə-brə 

plural vertebrae -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