pterygoid

Borrowed from New Latin pterygoīdēs, from Ancient Greek πτερῠγοειδής (pterugoeidḗs, “like a wing”), from πτέρῠξ (ptérux, “a wing”) +‎ -ο- (-o-) +‎ -ειδής (-eidḗs, “-like, -oid”).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈtɛ.ɹɪ.ɡɔɪd/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈtɛɹ.əˌɡɔɪd/
• Rhymes: -ɛɹɪɡɔɪd

pterygoid (not comparable)

1. (anatomy) Of, pertaining to or lying in the region of the inferior part of the sphenoid bone of the vertebrate skull.

   Synonym: pterygoidal

pterygoid (plural pterygoids)

1. (anatomy) A pterygoid part (such as a bone, muscle, or nerve).

• pterygoidal

• “pterygoid”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.