# vertebra

/ˈvɝtəbɹə/ (US) · /vˈɜːtɪbɹɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vertebra
Updated: 2026-05-27

## Definition

one of the small bones that make up your spine. These bones protect your spinal cord and help you stand upright.

For teachers: one of the individual bones that constitute the spinal column. Each vertebra provides structural support and protects the spinal cord.

## Examples

- The doctor checked if any of the vertebra in my neck were damaged.
- A herniated disc occurs when the soft material inside a vertebra pushes out and presses against a nerve.
- The fossil record shows that the number of vertebra in the neck of sauropod dinosaurs was remarkably consistent across different species, despite their enormous size variations.

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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.