proximal

adj. describes a part of the body that is closer to the torso or the point where a limb attaches.

adj. situated nearer to the point of attachment or the trunk of the body. The term is the opposite of distal.

“The shoulder is the most proximal part of the arm.”

“The surgeon noted a fracture in the proximal femur, specifically where the bone meets the hip joint.”

Technical

adj. describes something located near the source of a natural process, like a volcano or a river.

adj. located near the source of a sedimentary deposit or volcanic activity.

“The proximal rocks were larger because they hadn't traveled far from the volcano.”

“Proximal deposits in the river delta are characterized by coarser grains compared to the finer silts found further downstream.”

Technical

adj. describes words like 'this' or 'here' that refer to things close to the speaker.

adj. denoting a demonstrative or deictic expression that refers to an entity near the speaker.

“In the sentence 'this book', the word 'this' is a proximal demonstrative.”

“The researcher analyzed how different languages distinguish between proximal and distal spatial references in everyday conversation.”

Technical · Academic