Meanings
- not comparableanatomyBeing the process of the temporal bone behind the ear.
- not comparableanatomyOf or relating to the mastoid process of the temporal bone.
- not comparablebiologyShaped like a nipple.
Spores tetrahedral, paraphyses mastoid-claviform, scales smooth, entire.
1899, Memoirs of the Torrey Botanical Club, volumes 6-8, page 192
plural mastoids
- abbreviationellipsisanatomyEllipsis of mastoid process.
- abbreviationclippinginformalmedicineClipping of mastoiditis.
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiverelating to or resembling a nipple
nounprocess of the temporal bone behind the ear at the base of the skull
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Ancient Greekμᾰστοειδής“like a breast”
- New Latinmastoīdēs
- Englishmastoid
Borrowed from New Latin mastoīdēs, from Ancient Greek μᾰστοειδής (măstoeidḗs, “like a breast”), from μᾰστός (măstós, “a woman's breast”) + -ειδής (-eidḗs, “-like, -oid”).
More words from New Latin, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with mastoid
Cite this entry
mastoid. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mastoid
“mastoid.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mastoid. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “mastoid,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mastoid.
Source: mastoid on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.