phalanges

[ fuh-lan-jeez ]
/ fəˈlæn dʒiz /

noun

a plural of phalanx.
plural of phalange.

Origin of phalanges

< Latin < Greek phálanges

Definition for phalanges (2 of 3)

phalange
[ fal-uh nj, fuh-lanj, fey-lanj ]
/ ˈfæl əndʒ, fəˈlændʒ, ˈfeɪ lændʒ /

noun, plural pha·lan·ges [fuh-lan-jeez] /fəˈlæn dʒiz/. Anatomy, Zoology.

a phalanx.

Origin of phalange

First recorded in 1550–60; back formation from phalanges

Definition for phalanges (3 of 3)

phalanx
[ fey-langks, fal-angks ]
/ ˈfeɪ læŋks, ˈfæl æŋks /

noun, plural pha·lanx·es or for 7, pha·lan·ges [fuh-lan-jeez] /fəˈlæn dʒiz/.

verb (used without object)

Printing. to arrange the distribution of work in a shop as evenly as possible.

Origin of phalanx

1545–55; < Latin < Greek phálanx military formation, bone of finger or toe, wooden roller

Example sentences from the Web for phalanges

British Dictionary definitions for phalanges (1 of 2)

phalange
/ (ˈfælændʒ) /

noun plural phalanges (fæˈlændʒiːz)

anatomy another name for phalanx (def. 5)

Word Origin for phalange

C16: via French, ultimately from Greek phalanx

British Dictionary definitions for phalanges (2 of 2)

phalanx
/ (ˈfælæŋks) /

noun plural phalanxes or phalanges (fæˈlændʒiːz)

an ancient Greek and Macedonian battle formation of hoplites presenting long spears from behind a wall of overlapping shields
any closely ranked unit or mass of people the police formed a phalanx to protect the embassy
a number of people united for a common purpose
(in Fourierism) a group of approximately 1800 persons forming a commune in which all property is collectively owned
anatomy any of the bones of the fingers or toes Related adjective: phalangeal
botany
  1. a bundle of stamens, joined together by their stalks (filaments)
  2. a form of vegetative spread in which the advance is on a broad front, as in the common reedCompare guerrilla

Word Origin for phalanx

C16: via Latin from Greek: infantry formation in close ranks, bone of finger or toe

Medical definitions for phalanges

phalanx
[ fālăngks′, fălăngks′ ]

n. pl. pha•lanx•es

Any of the long bones of the fingers or toes, numbering 14 for each hand or foot: two for the thumb or big toe, and three each for the other four digits.

Scientific definitions for phalanges

phalanx
[ fālăngks′ ]

Plural phalanges (fə-lănjēz)

Any of the small bones of the fingers or toes in humans or the digits of many other vertebrates.