cuneiform Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an ancient wedge-shaped script used in Mesopotamia and Persia
  2. adjective shaped like a wedge
    cuneal; wedge-shaped.
  3. adjective of or relating to the tarsal bones (or other wedge-shaped bones)

WordNet

Cu*ne"i*form, Cu"ni*form adjective (Also<
  • Cuneiform
  • Cuniform
)
Etymology
L. cuneus a wedge + -form: cf. F. cunei-forme. See Coin.
Definitions
  1. Wedge-shaped; as, a cuneiform bone; -- especially applied to the wedge-shaped or arrowheaded characters of ancient Persian and Assyrian inscriptions. See Arrowheaded.
  2. Pertaining to, or versed in, the ancient wedge-shaped characters, or the inscriptions in them. "A cuneiform scholar." Rawlinson.
Cu*ne"i*form, Cu"ni*form noun (Also<
  • Cuneiform
  • Cuniform
)
Definitions
  1. The wedge-shaped characters used in ancient Persian and Assyrian inscriptions. I. Taylor (The Alphabet).
  2. (Anat.) (a) One of the three tarsal bones supporting the first, second third metatarsals. They are usually designated as external, middle, and internal, or ectocuniform, mesocuniform, and entocuniform, respectively. (b) One of the carpal bones usually articulating wich the ulna; -- called also pyramidal and ulnare.

Webster 1913