adjective
hyoid
HEYE-oyd
Hyoid (adjective) means Shaped like the letter U, or resembling a small U-shaped bone in the throat. Example: “The hyoid bone sits just above the larynx and anchors the tongue muscles.”
adjective
1
Shaped like the letter U, or resembling a small U-shaped bone in the throat.
"This stick has a hyoid shape."
"The hyoid bone sits just above the larynx and anchors the tongue muscles."
"The hyoid bone in her throat flutters as if discharging some subvocal rosary."
— JG Ballard, The Atrocity Exhibition (1969)
How to use hyoid
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA term mostly used in anatomy for the small horseshoe-shaped bone in your neck that supports your tongue and voice box.
Common pairings
hyoid bone
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The _____ bone sits just above the larynx and anchors the tongue muscles.
Etymology
From French hyoïde, based on Greek for "shaped like the letter upsilon (υ)" — describing the bone's U-like curve.
Rhymes for hyoid
See all rhymes for hyoid →Frequently asked questions
What does “hyoid” mean?
The word “hyoid” means shaped like the letter U, or resembling a small U-shaped bone in the throat. In plain terms, a term mostly used in anatomy for the small horseshoe-shaped bone in your neck that supports your tongue and voice box.
How do you pronounce “hyoid”?
“Hyoid” is pronounced HEYE-oyd (/ˈhaɪ.ɔɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “hyoid” in a sentence?
Here is “hyoid” used in a sentence: “The hyoid bone sits just above the larynx and anchors the tongue muscles.”
What part of speech is “hyoid”?
“Hyoid” is an adjective.
Where does the word “hyoid” come from?
The word “hyoid” comes from French. From French hyoïde, based on Greek for "shaped like the letter upsilon (υ)" — describing the bone's U-like curve.
