posterior
[ po-steer-ee-er, poh- ]
/ pɒˈstɪər i ər, poʊ- /
adjective
situated behind or at the rear of; hinder (opposed to anterior).
coming after in order, as in a series.
coming after in time; later; subsequent (sometimes followed by to).
Anatomy, Zoology.
- (in quadrupeds) pertaining to or toward the rear or caudal end of the body.
- (in humans and other primates) pertaining to or toward the back plane of the body, equivalent to the dorsal surface of quadrupeds.
Botany.
toward the back and near the main axis, as the upper lip of a flower.
noun
the hinder parts or rump of the body; buttocks.
Origin of posterior
1525–35; < Latin, comparative of
posterus coming after, derivative of
post after
synonym study for posterior
1. See
back1.
OTHER WORDS FROM posterior
pos·te·ri·or·ly, adverbWords nearby posterior
Example sentences from the Web for posterior
British Dictionary definitions for posterior
posterior
/ (pɒˈstɪərɪə) /
adjective
noun
the buttocks; rump
statistics
a posterior probability
Compare
anterior
Derived forms of posterior
posteriorly, adverbWord Origin for posterior
C16: from Latin: latter, from
posterus coming next, from
post after
Medical definitions for posterior
posterior
[ pŏ-stîr′ē-ər, pō- ]
adj.
Located behind a part or toward the rear of a structure.
Relating to the caudal end of the body in quadrupeds or the dorsal side in humans.
Near the tail or caudal end of certain embryos.