American English pronunciation
How to pronounce dorsal
IPA transcription: ['dɔɹsəl]
Pronunciation variants: ['dɔɹsəl]['dɚsəl]
Hear “dorsal” pronounced
['dɔɹsəl]
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['dɔɹsəl]
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['dɚsəl]
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Adjective
-
belonging to or on or near the back or upper surface of an animal or organ or part
“the dorsal fin is the vertical fin on the back of a fish and certain marine mammals”
-
facing away from the axis of an organ or organism
“the abaxial surface of a leaf is the underside or side facing away from the stem”
Usage examples
- Desert lizards have fine, granular dorsal scales.
- The spindle-shaped body has a small dorsal fin and short and narrow flippers.
- They have shaped edges and are modified by abrupt flaking from the dorsal face.
- The dorsal fin usually has six soft rays.
- The dorsal surface is usually green or yellow and there are longitudinal stripes.
- They have one dorsal fin located near the caudal fin.
- Its dorsal scales are strongly keeled and pointed on its body and tail.
- Tadpoles are pond type larvae with large dorsal fins on their tails.
- It has sharp dorsal spines.
- The dorsal and caudal fins have a red-orange base, all other fins are colorless.