adj · noun · 10 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈdɔː.səl/
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈdɔː.sl̩/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ˈdɔɹ.səl/
rhymes with -ɔː(ɹ)səl
CMU ARPABET:D AO1 R S AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
With respect to, or concerning the side in which the backbone is located, or the analogous side of an invertebrate.
Relating to the top surface of the foot or hand.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
A sound produced using the dorsum of the tongue.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
adjective
Meaning 9
facing away from the axis of an organ or organism
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the abaxial surface of a leaf is the underside or side facing away from the stem
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: abaxial
Antonyms: none provided
10
adjective
Meaning 10
belonging to or on or near the back or upper surface of an animal or organ or part
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the dorsal fin is the vertical fin on the back of a fish and certain marine mammals
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: ventral
History
Etymology
From Late Middle English dorsal/dorsale, borrowing from Medieval Latin dorsālis (“of or relating to the back”), from dorsum (“the back”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix); equivalent to dorsum + -al.
Across languages
Translations
51 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
ظَهْرِيّ
(ẓahriyy)
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Belarusian:
спінны́
(spinný)
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Bulgarian:
гръбен
(grǎben)
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Catalan:
dorsal
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Chinese Mandarin:
背側 /背侧
(bèicè)
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Czech:
hřbetní
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Czech:
dorzální
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Finnish:
selänpuoleinen
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
French:
dorsal
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Galician:
dorsal
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
German:
Rücken-
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
German:
dorsal
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Italian:
dorsale
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Malay:
belakang
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Malay:
dorsum
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Malay:
dorsal
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Polish:
grzbietowy
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Polish:
dorsalny
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Portuguese:
dorsal
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Romanian:
dorsal
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Russian:
спинно́й
(spinnój)
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Russian:
дорса́льный
(dorsálʹnyj)
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Russian:
хребе́тный
(xrebétnyj)
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Slovak:
chrbtový
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Spanish:
dorsal
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Swedish:
dorsal
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Swedish:
rygg-
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Tagalog:
panlikod
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Tagalog:
likuran
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Ukrainian:
спинни́й
(spynnýj)
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Ukrainian:
хребе́тний
(xrebétnyj)
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Unami:
ùpxkòni
— relating to the side in which the backbone is located
Chinese Mandarin:
背側 /背侧
(bèicè)
— relating to the top surface of foot or hand
Finnish:
dorsaalinen
— relating to the top surface of foot or hand
Portuguese:
dorsal
— relating to the top surface of foot or hand
Russian:
ты́льный
(týlʹnyj)
— relating to the top surface of foot or hand
Armenian:
միջնալեզվային
(miǰnalezvayin)
— produced using the dorsum of the tongue
Azerbaijani:
dilortası
— produced using the dorsum of the tongue
Finnish:
dorsaalinen
— produced using the dorsum of the tongue
Galician:
dorsal
— produced using the dorsum of the tongue
Georgian:
უკანაენისმიერი
(uḳanaenismieri)
— produced using the dorsum of the tongue
Georgian:
დორსალური
(dorsaluri)
— produced using the dorsum of the tongue
Georgian:
გუტურალური
(guṭuraluri)
— produced using the dorsum of the tongue
German:
dorsal
— produced using the dorsum of the tongue
Romanian:
dorsal
— produced using the dorsum of the tongue
Russian:
среднеязы́чный
(srednejazýčnyj)
— produced using the dorsum of the tongue
Russian:
дорса́льный
(dorsálʹnyj)
— produced using the dorsum of the tongue
Swedish:
dorsal
— produced using the dorsum of the tongue
Bulgarian:
едноостър
(ednoostǎr)
— having only one sharp side
Finnish:
yksiteräinen
— having only one sharp side
Russian:
единоо́стрый
(jedinoóstryj)
— having only one sharp side
