preorbital

1 of 2

adjective

pre·​orbital
1
: situated in front of the orbit
the preorbital membrane bone of bony fishes
2
: occurring before going into or being in orbit

preorbital

2 of 2

noun

"
: a preorbital part
especially : a large membrane bone that is situated just in front of the orbit in many teleost fishes

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

pre- + orbit + -al

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near preorbital

Cite this Entry

“Preorbital.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preorbital. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!