apical

IPA/ˈeɪ.pɪ.kəl/
KK[ˈæpɪkəl]IPA/ˈeɪ.pɪ.kəl/

apical — adjective

  • apicalpositive
  • more apicalcomparative
  • most apicalsuperlative

1. located at or forming the uppermost tip or peak of something, such as the top of

1.形容詞C1
釋義

located at or forming the uppermost tip or peak of something, such as the top of a plant, mountain, or pointed shape.

例句

The apical leaves of the bamboo plant were the smallest and most delicate.

apical leaves

An apical stone marker stood at the peak of the ancient burial mound.

同義詞
  • topmost

    more common in everyday English; lacks the scientific tone of 'apical'

  • uppermost

    general-purpose word for the highest position in a stack or hierarchy

  • peak

    focuses on a sharp, pointed summit; often used for mountains or graphs

反義詞
  • basal

    refers to the bottom or base of a structure, opposite of apical

  • lowest

    general opposite for position at the bottom

用法筆記

This technical word is used mainly in scientific writing (botany, geography, geometry) rather than in everyday conversation.

常見錯誤

❌The apical part of the tree is near the ground.
✅The apical part of the tree is at the very top.
💡apical always refers to the highest or pointed end, never the base.

2. relating to the narrow, pointed tip of a bodily organ or anatomical structure, s

2.形容詞C1
釋義

relating to the narrow, pointed tip of a bodily organ or anatomical structure, such as the end of a tooth root or the upper section of a lung.

例句

The apical part of the heart, called the apex, beats against the chest wall.

apical part of the heart

An apical infection in a tooth can spread to the jawbone if left untreated.

apical infection

同義詞
  • terminal

    broader term meaning 'at the end'; less specific than 'apical' about which end

  • tip

    everyday word for the pointed end of something; less formal and less precise

  • pointed

    describes the shape rather than the position at the end of a structure

反義詞
  • basal

    opposite end of an organ or structure; the bottom or base rather than the tip

用法筆記

Common in medical and dental writing. The related noun 'apex' is used more frequently in everyday clinical speech ('the apex of the tooth' sounds more natural than 'the apical part of the tooth').

常見錯誤

❌The apical of the tooth was infected.
✅The apex of the tooth was infected.
💡apical is an adjective and needs a following noun; use the noun 'apex' when a standalone term is needed.