noun
vertebra
VUR-tihb-ruh
noun
1
Any one of the small bones that link together to form the spine.
"He fractured a vertebra in his lower back during the fall."
"A chiropractor examined each vertebra for signs of misalignment."
How to Use Vertebra
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOne of the individual bones that stack up to make the backbone.
Common mistake
The plural is "vertebrae", not "vertebras".
Common pairings
a fractured vertebra
cervical vertebra
Word Forms
vertebrae plural, vertebræ plural, vertebras plural
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He fractured a _____ in his lower back during the fall.
Etymology
From Latin vertebra, "a joint", from vertere, "to turn" — because these bones let the spine twist and bend.