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Spine vs Vertebrae - What's the difference?

spine | vertebrae |

As nouns the difference between spine and vertebrae

is that spine is the series of bones situated at the back from the head to the pelvis of a person, or from the head to the tail of an animal; backbone, vertebral column while vertebrae is irregular plural of vertebra; the bones that make up the spinal column.

spine

English

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Noun

(en noun)
  • The series of bones situated at the back from the head to the pelvis of a person, or from the head to the tail of an animal; backbone, vertebral column.
  • * 1851 , (Herman Melville), (Moby-Dick) , :
    • If you attentively regard almost any quadruped's spine , you will be struck with the resemblance of its vertebrae to a strung necklace of dwarfed skulls.
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  • Something resembling a backbone, such as a ridge, or a long, central structure from which other structures radiate.
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  • # The narrow, bound edge of a book.
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  • A rigid, pointed surface protuberance or needle-like structure on an animal, shell, or plant.
  • * 1871 , (Charles Darwin), (w) , :
    • The male, as Dr. Gunther informs me, has a cluster of stiff, straight spines , like those of a comb, on the sides of the tail.
  • (figurative) Courage or assertiveness.
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    • Derived terms

    * send shivers down someone's spine * spina bifida * spinal * spinal canal * spinal column * spinal cord * spine board * spineless * spiniferous * spinose * spinous * spiny

    Anagrams

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    External links

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    vertebrae

    English

    Alternative forms

    * * vertebras

    Noun

    (head)
  • ; the bones that make up the spinal column.

    • Usage notes

    Usually in English, the Latin diphthong ae'' is Anglicized as /i/, a long ''e'' sound. The original Latin diphthong was pronounced /a?/, as a long ''i''. The pronunciation of ''vertebrae'' ending in /e?/ with a long ''a'' is undoubtedly more common, but generally frowned upon by orthoepists as it is not supported by etymology (like the long ''i'') or analogy (like the long ''e ), only usage. Since all three are supported by their own argument, they are all acceptable. ----