pelvic

Everyday

1. Of or near the pelvis, the bowl-shaped group of bones at the bottom of your body that joins your spine to your legs. tree →
2. (pelvic fin) One of a pair of fins on the underside of a fish. tree →

In the lessons

In science and health lessons, the pelvic bones (hips) support your body and protect organs; the legs join the pelvis at the hip joints. In biology, fish have pelvic fins underneath. Physiotherapists talk about pelvic muscles and pelvic floor exercises.

Examples

• The pelvic bones hold up the top half of your body. tree →
• Your thigh bone fits into a socket in the pelvic bone. tree →
• The fish has small pelvic fins underneath. tree →
• X-rays showed a pelvic injury after the fall. tree →
• The skeleton's pelvic bones look like a butterfly. tree →
• Some snakes still have tiny pelvic bones from their ancestors. tree →

Note

Adjective only. Noun: pelvis (plural pelvises or pelves). Pronounced "PEL-vik".