hamate

noun

ha·​mate ˈhā-ˌmāt How to pronounce hamate (audio)
: a bone on the inner side of the second row of the carpus in mammals

Examples of hamate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First baseman Tyler Black, the No. 6 prospect in the Brewers’ system was expected to open the season with Nashville but will instead miss the first 6-8 weeks of the season after fracturing the hamate bone in his right hand. Andrew Wagner, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025 Starting catcher Francisco Alvarez (fractured hamate bone in left hand) will miss six to eight weeks, and second baseman Jeff McNeil sustained a low-grade right oblique strain. Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 27 Mar. 2025 Catcher Francisco Alvarez will start the year on the IL with a broken hamate bone in his left hand but still has 25-30 home run power and breakout potential. Jim Bowden, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025 The constant care didn’t prevent the veteran from breaking his hamate bone on a live batting practice swing in January 2024, though. Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hamate

Word History

Etymology

Latin hamatus hooked, from hamus hook

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hamate was in 1924

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hamate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hamate. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

Medical Definition

hamate

1 of 2 adjective
ha·​mate
ˈhā-ˌmāt also ˈham-ət
: shaped like a hook

hamate

2 of 2 noun
variants or hamate bone
: a bone on the little-finger side of the second row of the carpus in mammals

called also unciform, unciform bone

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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