plural incudes
iŋ-ˈkyü-(ˌ)dēz 
ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌdēz
ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌdēz
: the middle bone of a chain of three small bones in the ear of a mammal
called also anvil
see ear illustrationExamples of incus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The smallest bones are inside your ear, and they are known as the hammer (malleus), stirrup (stapes), and anvil (incus).
—
Jason Bittel, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2019
The auditory ossicles of the middle ear – the malleus, incus and stapes – are the tiniest bones in the human body.
—Emily Matchar, Smithsonian, 18 Dec. 2017
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Jason Bittel, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2019
The auditory ossicles of the middle ear – the malleus, incus and stapes – are the tiniest bones in the human body.
—Emily Matchar, Smithsonian, 18 Dec. 2017
Dictionary Entries Near incus
Cite this Entry
“Incus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incus. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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Medical Definition
incus
noun
in·cus
ˈiŋ-kəs
plural incudes
iŋ-ˈkyüd-(ˌ)ēz
ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌdēz
ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌdēz
: the middle bone of the chain of three ossicles in the middle ear of a mammal resembling a premolar tooth with the body having a facet which articulates with the malleus and with the longer of the two widely separated crura having a process which articulates with the stapes
called also ambos, anvil
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