carpus

IPA/ˈkɑː.pəs/
IPA/ˈkɑːr.pəs/

carpus — noun

  • carpussingular
  • carpiplural

1. the set of small bones in the wrist that connect the hand with the forearm

1.nounC2
Definition

the set of small bones in the wrist that connect the hand with the forearm

Example

The X-ray showed a small fracture in Reema's carpus after the fall.

fracture of the carpus in injury reports

In anatomy class, Joon labeled the carpus between the hand and forearm.

Common collocations
  • fracture of the carpus
  • bones of the carpus
  • injury to the carpus
  • swelling in the carpus
Synonyms
  • wrist bones

    everyday phrase for the bones in the wrist, less formal than carpus

  • carpal bones

    technical term for the separate bones that together make up the carpus

  • wrist

    everyday word for the whole area or joint, not only the bones

Grammar Patterns

the carpus

fracture of the carpus

carpus of [animal/person]

Usage Note

Used mainly in anatomy, veterinary, and medical writing. In everyday English, people usually say wrist or wrist bones instead. The formal plural is often carpi, though carpuses also appears.

Common Mistakes

One of the carpus was broken.
One of the carpal bones was broken.
The carpus is the whole set of wrist bones, not one bone.
My carpus hurts from typing all day.
My wrist hurts from typing all day.
In everyday conversation, people normally say wrist unless they are speaking medically.

Word family

  • carpal
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

carpus is the formal anatomical name for the cluster of small bones inside the wrist. Wrist is the everyday word for the whole joint area between the hand and forearm, so most people say 'my wrist hurts' rather than 'my carpus hurts'. Carpal bones refers to the separate bones one by one, especially when doctors or textbooks discuss their number, order, or shape. In a medical report, an X-ray may show a fracture of the carpus. In normal conversation, the same injury is usually called a broken wrist. Choose carpus for technical description, wrist for daily speech, and carpal bones when you mean the individual bones.

carpus ↗wrist ↗carpal bones

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • fracture of the carpus
  • bones of the carpus
  • carpus of the horse

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

Carpus came into English through scientific Latin carpus, from Greek karpos, meaning 'wrist'. In anatomy, the word became the formal name for the cluster of bones in that part of the body.

First known use

1676

1676, in the meaning defined at sense 1