adj

parietal

puh-REYE-uh-tuhl

Parietal (adj) means relating to the wall of a body cavity or organ. Example: “The parietal layer of the membrane lines the cavity wall.”

adj

Relating to the wall of a body cavity or organ.

"The parietal layer of the membrane lines the cavity wall."

Relating to the parietal bones, located at the top and sides of the skull.

"The scan showed unusual activity in the parietal region of the brain."

noun

Either of the two skull bones forming the top and sides of the head.

"The fracture ran across the left parietal."

How to use parietal

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishRelating to a "wall" structure in the body — most commonly the parietal bones of the skull or the wall lining of an organ.

Common pairings

parietal bone parietal lobe

Word forms

more parietal comparative, parietals plural, most parietal superlative

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The _____ layer of the membrane lines the cavity wall.

Etymology

From Latin parietalis, from paries ("wall").

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for parietal

metal fetal petal Sheetal skeletal societal

See all rhymes for parietal →

Frequently asked questions

What does “parietal” mean?

The word “parietal” means relating to the wall of a body cavity or organ. In plain terms, relating to a "wall" structure in the body — most commonly the parietal bones of the skull or the wall lining of an organ.

How do you pronounce “parietal”?

“Parietal” is pronounced puh-REYE-uh-tuhl (/pəˈɹaɪ.ə.təl/ in IPA).

How do you use “parietal” in a sentence?

Here is “parietal” used in a sentence: “The parietal layer of the membrane lines the cavity wall.”

What part of speech is “parietal”?

Depending on how it is used, “parietal” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “parietal” come from?

The word “parietal” comes from Latin. From Latin parietalis, from paries ("wall").

How many meanings does “parietal” have?

“Parietal” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to the wall of a body cavity or organ.