Hyoid

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈhaɪɔɪd/

Origin

From French hyoïde, from modern Latin hyoides, from Ancient Greek ὑοειδής (huoeidēs, "shaped like the letter υ").

Full definition of hyoid

Adjective

1. Shaped like a U, or like the letter upsilon; specifically, designating a bone or group of bones supporting the tongue.
• 1969: The hyoid bone in her throat flutters as if discharging some subvocal rosary. — JG Ballard, The Atrocity Exhibition

Noun

1. The hyoid bone.
• 1973: the vulture, relinquishing its title, surely in natural justice gave me a right to this femur, this curiously distorted hyoid? — Patrick O'Brian, HMS Surprise