Illustration of cuneiform
- cuneiform 2
cuneiform
1 of 2adjective
cu·ne·i·form kyü-ˈnē-ə-ˌfȯrm 
ˈkyü-n(ē-)ə-
ˈkyü-n(ē-)ə- 1
: having the shape of a wedge
2
: composed of or written in wedge-shaped characters
cuneiform syllabary
cuneiform
2 of 2noun
1
: a cuneiform part
specifically : a cuneiform bone or cartilage
2
: cuneiform writing
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
WIRED, 11 Sep. 2022 The research team found ceramic vessels reportedly containing more than 100 cuneiform tablets. Kevin Simauchi, oregonlive, 14 Aug. 2022 The research team found ceramic vessels reportedly containing more than 100 cuneiform tablets. Kevin Simauchi, oregonlive, 14 Aug. 2022 The research team found ceramic vessels reportedly containing more than 100 cuneiform tablets. Kevin Simauchi, oregonlive, 14 Aug. 2022 The research team found ceramic vessels reportedly containing more than 100 cuneiform tablets. Kevin Simauchi, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Aug. 2022 The capstone is inscribed in the alphabets of early human civilizations -- Egyptian hieroglyphics, Babylonian cuneiform, Sanskrit and classical Greek. Devon M. Sayers And Jamiel Lynch, CNN, 7 July 2022 Among the objects was the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet, a 3,500-year-old cuneiform block forfeited by Hobby Lobby in July 2021. David Kindy, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Feb. 2022 Archaeologists found five ceramic vessels holding over 100 clay cuneiform tablets, dating back to closely after the earthquake event. Megan Marples, CNN, 20 June 2022 See More
Noun
Many writing systems, including cuneiform and Mandarin Chinese, originated with pictograms. WIRED, 11 Sep. 2022 The research team found ceramic vessels reportedly containing more than 100 cuneiform tablets. Kevin Simauchi, oregonlive, 14 Aug. 2022 The research team found ceramic vessels reportedly containing more than 100 cuneiform tablets. Kevin Simauchi, oregonlive, 14 Aug. 2022 The research team found ceramic vessels reportedly containing more than 100 cuneiform tablets. Kevin Simauchi, oregonlive, 14 Aug. 2022 The research team found ceramic vessels reportedly containing more than 100 cuneiform tablets. Kevin Simauchi, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Aug. 2022 The capstone is inscribed in the alphabets of early human civilizations -- Egyptian hieroglyphics, Babylonian cuneiform, Sanskrit and classical Greek. Devon M. Sayers And Jamiel Lynch, CNN, 7 July 2022 Among the objects was the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet, a 3,500-year-old cuneiform block forfeited by Hobby Lobby in July 2021. David Kindy, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Feb. 2022 Archaeologists found five ceramic vessels holding over 100 clay cuneiform tablets, dating back to closely after the earthquake event. Megan Marples, CNN, 20 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
probably from French cunéiforme, from Middle French, from Latin cuneus + Middle French -iforme -iform
First Known Use
Adjective
1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1808, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
cuneiform
adjective
cu·ne·i·form kyu̇-ˈnē-ə-ˌfȯrm
: made up of or written with marks or letters shaped like wedges
Medical Definition
cuneiform 1 of 2
adjective
cu·ne·i·form kyu̇-ˈnē-ə-ˌfȯrm ˈkyü-n(ē-)ə-
ˈkyü-n(ē-)ə- 1
: of, relating to, or being a cuneiform bone or cartilage
2
of a human skull : wedge-shaped as viewed from above
cuneiform
2 of 2noun
: a cuneiform bone or cartilage