umbo

noun

um·​bo ˈəm-(ˌ)bō How to pronounce umbo (audio)
plural umbones ˌəm-ˈbō-(ˌ)nēz How to pronounce umbo (audio) or umbos
1
: the boss of a shield
2
: a rounded elevation: such as
a
: an inward projection of the tympanic membrane of the ear
b
: one of the lateral prominences just above the hinge of a bivalve shell
umbonal
ˈəm-bə-nᵊl How to pronounce umbo (audio) ˌəm-ˈbō- How to pronounce umbo (audio)
adjective
umbonate
ˈəm-bə-ˌnāt How to pronounce umbo (audio) ˌəm-ˈbō-nət How to pronounce umbo (audio)
adjective

Illustration of umbo

Illustration of umbo
  • U umbo 1

Examples of umbo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The mic is designed to be implanted inside the middle ear, with its triangular tip resting against part of the eardrum known as the umbo. —Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 19 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin umbōn-, umbō "boss of a shield, protuberance, projecting piece of land," going back to Indo-European *h3n̥bh-on- or * h3enbh-on-, derivative, with the vowel in a different position ("floating ablaut," German Schwebeablaut), from the base seen in *h3nobh- "hub of a wheel, nave entry 1"

Note: A likely cognate is Old High German amban, ampan "belly of a pig, paunch," a masculine strong noun, though more closely parallel to Latin are traces of an n-stem: a single late Franconian form ambin, presumably dative of a masculine n-stem *ambo; and Old Saxon ambon "paunch" (Latin abdomina), accusative plural of a presumed n-stem *ambo.

First Known Use

1721, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of umbo was in 1721

Dictionary Entries Near umbo

umbles

umbo

umbolateral

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Cite this Entry

“Umbo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/umbo. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

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Medical Definition

umbo

noun
um·​bo ˈəm-(ˌ)bō How to pronounce umbo (audio)
plural umbones ˌəm-ˈbō-(ˌ)nēz How to pronounce umbo (audio) or umbos
: an elevation in the tympanic membrane of the ear

More from Merriam-Webster on umbo

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about umbo

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