tibia
tibia Lexical Profile
tibia Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The inner and typically larger of the two bones between the knee and the ankle in vertebrates, parallel with the fibula, which bears most of the weight of the lower leg.
"The athlete was sidelined for six weeks after suffering a hairline fracture in his right tibia."
The fourth segment of the leg of an insect, arachnid, or other arthropod, situated between the femur and the tarsus.
"Under the microscope, the entomologist examined the tiny spines along the beetle's hind tibia."
An ancient Roman wind instrument resembling a reed pipe or double flute, corresponding to the Greek aulos and used in theatrical and religious ceremonies.
"Roman comedies were traditionally accompanied by a musician playing a double tibia on stage."
Word Nuance & Usage
Often confused with the fibula, which is the thinner, non-weight-bearing bone located alongside the tibia in the lower leg.
• Rhymes for tibia
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed directly from Latin 'tibia', meaning both 'shinbone' and 'pipe' or 'flute', as ancient flutes were originally crafted from the hollow leg bones of birds and animals.