adj
Uncommon
dorsal
DAW-suhl
Dorsal (adj) means Located on or relating to the upper or back side of an animal, fish, or body part — the side where the backbone runs. Example: “A shark is easy to spot by its triangular dorsal fin.”
adj
1
Located on or relating to the upper or back side of an animal, fish, or body part — the side where the backbone runs.
"A shark is easy to spot by its triangular dorsal fin."
"The dorsal side of your hand is the side with your knuckles, not your palm."
How to use dorsal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes the back or upper surface of something, especially in anatomy — as opposed to the front (ventral) side.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "ventral," which means the opposite (belly or front side).
Easily confused with
Common pairings
dorsal fin
dorsal side
dorsal surface
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Word forms
- Plural
- dorsals
- Comparative
- more dorsal
- Superlative
- most dorsal
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A shark is easy to spot by its triangular _____ fin.
Etymology
From Late Middle English dorsal, borrowed from Medieval Latin dorsalis ("of the back"), from dorsum ("the back").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “dorsal” mean?
The word “dorsal” means located on or relating to the upper or back side of an animal, fish, or body part — the side where the backbone runs. In plain terms, describes the back or upper surface of something, especially in anatomy — as opposed to the front (ventral) side.
How do you pronounce “dorsal”?
“Dorsal” is pronounced DAW-suhl (/ˈdɔɹ.səl/ in IPA).
How do you use “dorsal” in a sentence?
Here is “dorsal” used in a sentence: “A shark is easy to spot by its triangular dorsal fin.”
What is the opposite of “dorsal”?
The opposite of “dorsal” — its antonyms — is ventral.
What part of speech is “dorsal”?
“Dorsal” is an adjective.
Where does the word “dorsal” come from?
The word “dorsal” comes from Medieval Latin. From Late Middle English dorsal, borrowed from Medieval Latin dorsalis ("of the back"), from dorsum ("the back").
Is “dorsal” a common word?
“Dorsal” is an uncommon word in modern English.
