# dorsal

/ˈdɔɹsəɫ/ (US) · /dˈɔːsəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dorsal
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. anatomy/biology

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

relating to the back of an animal or the upper side of a body part.

For teachers: relating to the upper side or back of an animal, plant, or organ; the opposite of ventral.

- The shark's dorsal fin was visible just above the surface of the water.
- Marine biologists identified the individual whale by the unique scarring patterns found on its dorsal surface near the blowhole.

Usage: Commonly used in the compound noun 'dorsal fin'.

### 2. linguistics

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical · Academic

describing a sound made using the back part of your tongue.

For teachers: articulated with the back or dorsum of the tongue, such as the sounds /k/ or /g/.

- The 'k' sound in 'cat' is a dorsal consonant.
- The researcher noted that the patient had difficulty articulating dorsal consonants, suggesting a motor control issue with the back of the tongue.

### 3. decorative hanging

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

a decorative cloth or curtain hung behind an altar or a throne.

For teachers: an ornamental cloth or tapestry suspended behind an altar, throne, or seat of state.

- The throne was decorated with a beautiful silk dorsal.
- The cathedral's restoration included the cleaning of a fifteenth-century dorsal that hung behind the high altar.

## Examples

- The dorsal fin helps the shark stay upright.
- The doctor examined the dorsal side of the patient's hand for signs of swelling.
- In vertebrate embryology, the neural tube develops along the dorsal axis, eventually forming the central nervous system.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.