DACTYL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does dactyl mean? 

• DACTYL (noun)
  The noun DACTYL has 2 senses:

1. a metrical unit with stressed-unstressed-unstressed syllables

2. a finger or toe in human beings or corresponding body part in other vertebrates

  Familiarity information: DACTYL used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DACTYL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A metrical unit with stressed-unstressed-unstressed syllables

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("dactyl" is a kind of...):

foot; metrical foot; metrical unit ((prosody) a group of 2 or 3 syllables forming the basic unit of poetic rhythm)

Derivation:

dactylic (of or consisting of dactyls)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A finger or toe in human beings or corresponding body part in other vertebrates

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

dactyl; digit

Hypernyms ("dactyl" is a kind of...):

appendage; extremity; member (an external body part that projects from the body)

Meronyms (parts of "dactyl"):

phalanx (any of the bones of the fingers or toes)

nail (horny plate covering and protecting part of the dorsal surface of the digits)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "dactyl"):

minimus (the fifth digit; the little finger or little toe)

finger (any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb))

toe (one of the digits of the foot)

Holonyms ("dactyl" is a part of...):

craniate; vertebrate (animals having a bony or cartilaginous skeleton with a segmented spinal column and a large brain enclosed in a skull or cranium)