posterior

views updated May 14 2018

pos·te·ri·or / päˈsti(ə)rēər; pō-/ • adj. 1. chiefly Anat., technical further back in position; of or nearer the rear or hind end, esp. of the body or a part of it: the posterior part of the gut2. a basal body situated just posterior to the nucleus. The opposite of anterior. ∎ Med. relating to or denoting presentation of a fetus in which the rear or caudal end is nearest the cervix and emerges first at birth: a posterior labor.Compare with breech birth.3. formal coming after in time or order; later: a date posterior to the first Reform Bill.• n. humorous a person's buttocks.DERIVATIVES: pos·te·ri·or·i·ty / päˌsti(ə)rēˈôritē; pō-/ n.pos·te·ri·or·ly adv.

posterior

views updated May 29 2018

posterior
1. Designating the part of an animal that is to the rear, i.e. that follows when the animal is moving. In humans and bipedal animals (e.g. kangaroos) the posterior surface is equivalent to the dorsal surface.

2. Designating the side of a flower or axillary bud that faces towards the flower stalk or main stem, respectively. Compare anterior.

posterior

views updated May 14 2018

posterior latter XVI; hinder XVII; sb. †(usu. pl.) descendants XVI; hinder parts, buttocks XVII. — L. posterior, compar. of posterus following, future, f. post after; see POST6, -IOR.
So posterity XIV. — F. — L.

posterior

views updated May 23 2018

posterior (poss-teer-i-er) adj. situated at or near the back of the body or an organ. p. chamber the rear section of the eye, behind the lens, which is filled with vitreous humour.