cuneiform
2 synonyms for cuneiform, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An ancient Mesopotamian writing system made of wedge-shaped marks pressed into clay tablets with a reed.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
wedge-shaped
cuneal
How to use cuneiform
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
cuneiform tablet
cuneiform script
cuneiform writing
cuneiform bone
It is mostly used in historical, scholarly and anatomical contexts.
Etymology
From French cunéiforme or New Latin cuneifōrmis, which came from Classical Latin cuneus, meaning wedge, and fōrma, meaning form or shape.
Full origin of cuneiform →Frequently asked questions
What is cuneiform?
Cuneiform is an ancient Mesopotamian writing system. It started as simple pictures in Sumer and became patterns of wedge-shaped marks pressed into wet clay with a reed.
Where does the word cuneiform come from?
It comes from French or New Latin, ultimately from Latin cuneus, meaning wedge, plus fōrma.
What does cuneiform mean as an adjective?
As an adjective it means wedge-shaped, or written in the cuneiform writing system.
