incus

[ ing-kuh s ]
/ ˈɪŋ kəs /

noun, plural in·cu·des [in-kyoo-deez] /ɪnˈkyu diz/ for 1; in·cus for 2.

Anatomy. the middle one of a chain of three small bones in the middle ear of humans and other mammals. Compare malleus, stapes.
Also called anvil, anvil cloud, anvil top, thunderhead. the spreading, anvil-shaped, upper portion of a mature cumulonimbus cloud, smooth or slightly fibrous in appearance.

Origin of incus

1660–70; < New Latin, Latin incūs anvil, equivalent to incūd- (stem of incūdere to hammer, beat upon) + -s nominative singular ending; see incuse

OTHER WORDS FROM incus

in·cu·date [ing-kyuh-deyt, -dit, in-] /ˈɪŋ kyəˌdeɪt, -dɪt, ˈɪn-/, in·cu·dal [ing-kyuh-dl, in-] /ˈɪŋ kyə dl, ˈɪn-/, adjective

Words nearby incus

incursion, incursive, incurvate, incurvation, incurve, incus, incuse, incyclophoria, ind, ind-, ind.

British Dictionary definitions for incudal

incus
/ (ˈɪŋkəs) /

noun plural incudes (ɪnˈkjuːdiːz)

the central of the three small bones in the middle ear of mammals Nontechnical name: anvil Compare malleus, stapes

Derived forms of incus

incudate (ˈɪŋkjʊˌdeɪt) or incudal (ˈɪŋkjʊdəl), adjective

Word Origin for incus

C17: from Latin: anvil, from incūdere to forge

Medical definitions for incudal (1 of 2)

incudal
[ ĭng′kyə-dl, ĭng-kyōōd′l ]

adj.

Relating to the incus.

Medical definitions for incudal (2 of 2)

incus
[ ĭng′kəs ]

n. pl. in•cu•des (ĭng-kyōō′dēz)

The middle of the three ossicles in the middle ear, located between the malleus and the stapes and composed of a body and two limbs. anvil

Scientific definitions for incudal

incus
[ ĭng-kyōō′dēz ]

Plural incudes (ĭng-kyōō′dēz)

The anvil-shaped bone (ossicle) that lies between the malleus and the stapes in the middle ear.
The elongated, often anvil-shaped upper portion of a fully developed cumulonimbus cloud; a thunderhead.