anterior
[ an-teer-ee-er ]
/ ænˈtɪər i ər /
adjective
situated before or at the front of; fore (opposed to posterior).
going before in time or sequence; preceding; earlier: events anterior to the outbreak of war.
Linguistics.
(in distinctive feature analysis) articulated in the region extending from the alveolar ridge to the lips; alveolar, dental, or labial.
(in animals and embryos) pertaining to or toward the head or forward end of the body.
(in humans) pertaining to or toward the front plane of the body, equivalent to the ventral surface of quadrupeds.
Botany.
on the front side and away from the main axis, as the lower lip of a flower.
Origin of anterior
1535–45; < Latin, comparative of
ante before, formed on model of
posterior
OTHER WORDS FROM anterior
an·te·ri·or·i·ty [an-teer-ee-awr-i-tee, -or-] /ænˌtɪər iˈɔr ɪ ti, -ˈɒr-/, noun an·te·ri·or·ly, adverb non·an·te·ri·or, adjectiveWords nearby anterior
Example sentences from the Web for anterior
British Dictionary definitions for anterior
anterior
/ (ænˈtɪərɪə) /
adjective
situated at or towards the front
earlier in time
zoology
of or near the head end
botany
(of part of a flower or leaf) situated farthest away from the main stem
Compare
posterior
Derived forms of anterior
anteriority (ænˌtɪərɪˈɒrɪtɪ), nounWord Origin for anterior
C17: from Latin, comparative of
ante before
Medical definitions for anterior
anterior
[ ăn-tîr′ē-ər ]
adj.
Placed before or in front.
Occurring before in time; earlier.
Of or relating to the front surface of the body, especially of the position of one structure relative to another; ventral.
Near the head or rostral end of certain embryos.
n.
The front surface of the body.