DORSUM

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

Irregular inflected form: dorsa

I. (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The back of the body of a vertebrate or any analogous surface (as the upper or outer surface of an organ or appendage or part)

Example:

the dorsum of the foot

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Hypernyms ("dorsum" is a kind of...):

body part (any part of an organism such as an organ or extremity)

Derivation:

dorsal (belonging to or on or near the back or upper surface of an animal or organ or part)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine

Example:

his back was nicely tanned

Synonyms:

back; dorsum

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Hypernyms ("dorsum" is a kind of...):

body part (any part of an organism such as an organ or extremity)

Meronyms (parts of "dorsum"):

saddle (posterior part of the back of a domestic fowl)

small (the slender part of the back)

lat; latissimus dorsi (a broad flat muscle on either side of the back)

dorsal vertebra; thoracic vertebra (one of 12 vertebrae in the human vertebral column; thoracic vertebrae extend from the seventh cervical vertebra down to the first lumbar vertebra)

lumbar vertebra (one of 5 vertebrae in the human vertebral column; lumbar vertebrae extend from the twelfth thoracic vertebra down to the sacral vertebrae)

Holonyms ("dorsum" is a part of...):

body; torso; trunk (the body excluding the head and neck and limbs)