humerus

noun

hu·​mer·​us ˈhyü-mə-rəs 

plural humeri ˈhyü-mə-ˌrī  -ˌrē 

: the long bone of the upper arm or forelimb extending from the shoulder to the elbow

Examples of humerus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The humerus is the long upper arm bone between the shoulder and the elbow. —Sarah Jividen, Health, 11 Oct. 2024

But the tone of her letter was more humerus than sternum. —Steve Hartman, CBS News, 27 Sep. 2024

For example, during the third stage, the roots of the canine teeth are fully mineralized and one part of the humerus fuses. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 17 Sep. 2024

But the new finds include a fragment of the upper arm bone, the humerus, which is more directly proportional to body size. —John Timmer, Ars Technica, 6 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin humerus, umerus upper arm, shoulder; akin to Goth ams shoulder, Greek ōmos

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

humerus

noun

hu·​mer·​us ˈhyüm-(ə-)rəs 

plural humeri ˈhyü-mə-ˌrī 

-ˌrē

: the long bone of the upper arm or forelimb that extends from the shoulder to the elbow

Medical Definition

humerus

noun

hu·​mer·​us ˈhyüm-(ə-)rəs 

plural humeri ˈhyü-mə-ˌrī  -ˌrē 

: the longest bone of the upper arm or forelimb extending from the shoulder to the elbow, articulating above by a rounded head with the glenoid cavity, having below a broad articular surface divided by a ridge into a medial pulley-shaped portion and a lateral rounded eminence that articulate with the ulna and radius respectively, and providing various processes and modified surfaces for the attachment of muscles