meta·tar·sal
ˌme-tə-ˈtär-səl 
: of, relating to, or being the part of the human foot or of the hind foot in quadrupeds between the tarsus and the phalanges that in humans comprises five elongated bones which form the front of the instep and ball of the foot
: a metatarsal bone
Examples of metatarsal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 25 June 2024
That’s because with forefoot strikes, the toes can splay, and the force of the impact can roll through the five metatarsal bones in the midsection of the foot, increasing surface area and spreading out the force of the impact.
—Laura Lancaster, Outdoor Life, 11 Apr. 2024
Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 12 June 2024
Certain exercises can strengthen the little muscles of your feet (your foot intrinsics) and increase mobility among your metatarsals, a critical group of bones in your feet.
—Genevieve Gyulavary Dpt, Outside Online, 9 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for metatarsal 
Adjective
Veteran starters such as Paul Blackburn (stress reaction metatarsal), Ross Stripling (elbow), and Alex Wood (left rotator cuff tendonitis) would need to get back on the mound in the next five weeks and show something.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 25 June 2024
That’s because with forefoot strikes, the toes can splay, and the force of the impact can roll through the five metatarsal bones in the midsection of the foot, increasing surface area and spreading out the force of the impact.
—Laura Lancaster, Outdoor Life, 11 Apr. 2024
Noun
The skeleton includes part of the creature’s skull, its entire mandible, two vertebrae, 12 ribs, two gastralia, along with multiple phalanges, metatarsals, and digits.
—Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 12 June 2024
Certain exercises can strengthen the little muscles of your feet (your foot intrinsics) and increase mobility among your metatarsals, a critical group of bones in your feet.
—Genevieve Gyulavary Dpt, Outside Online, 9 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for metatarsal
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'metatarsal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near metatarsal
Cite this Entry
“Metatarsal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metatarsal. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
metatarsal
1 of 2 adjective
meta·tar·sal
ˌmet-ə-ˈtär-səl
: of, relating to, or being the part of the foot in human beings or of the hind foot in a four-footed animal that is located between the tarsal bones and the toes
metatarsal
2 of 2 noun
: any of the metatarsal bones of which there are five in human beings
Medical Definition
metatarsal
1 of 2 adjective
meta·tar·sal
ˌmet-ə-ˈtär-səl
: of, relating to, or being the part of the human foot or of the hind foot in quadrupeds between the tarsus and the phalanges that in humans comprises five elongated bones which form the front of the instep and ball of the foot
metatarsal
2 of 2 noun
: a metatarsal bone
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