dorsal

Meanings

Plural: dorsals

Adjective

belonging to or on or near the back or upper surface of an animal or organ or part
- "the dorsal fin is the vertical fin on the back of a fish and certain marine mammals"
facing away from the axis of an organ or organism

Adj

With respect to, or concerning the side in which the backbone is located, or the analogous side of an invertebrate.
Relating to the top surface of the foot or hand.
With respect to, or concerning the side in which the backbone is located, or the analogous side of an invertebrate.
Produced using the dorsum of the tongue.
Having only one sharp side.
Relating to the surface naturally inferior, as of a leaf.
Relating to the surface naturally superior, as of a creeping hepatic moss.

Noun

A hanging, usually of rich stuff, at the back of a throne, altar, etc.
Any of the longitudinal series of plates that encircle the body, excluding the ventral scales.
A sound produced using the dorsum of the tongue.

Origin / Etymology

From Late Middle English dorsal/dorsale, borrowing from Medieval Latin dorsālis (“of or relating to the back”), from dorsum (“the back”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix); equivalent to dorsum + -al.

Synonyms

abaxial

Antonyms

adaxial, ventral

Scrabble Score: 7

dorsal is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
dorsal is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
dorsal is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 8

dorsal is a valid Words With Friends word