ball-and-socket joint

ball-and-sock·et joint

(bôl′ən-sŏk′ĭt)

n.

1. A synovial joint, such as the shoulder or hip joint, in which a spherical knob or knoblike part of one bone fits into a cavity or socket of another, so that some degree of rotary motion is possible in every direction. Also called enarthrosis.

2. A joint, as in a mechanical device, that permits rotary movement in all directions through the movement of a ball in a socket. Also called ball joint.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ball-and-socket joint

or

ball joint

n

1. (Mechanical Engineering) a coupling between two rods, tubes, etc, that consists of a spherical part fitting into a spherical socket, allowing free movement within a specific conical volume

2. (Anatomy) anatomy Also called: multiaxial joint a bony joint, such as the hip joint, in which a rounded head fits into a rounded cavity, allowing a wide range of movement

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ball′-and-sock′et joint`

n.

1. Also called enarthrosis. an anatomical joint in which the rounded end of one bone fits into a cuplike end of the other bone, as at the hip or shoulder.

2. Also called ball joint. a similar mechanical joint used to connect rods, pipes, etc.

[1660–70]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	ball-and-socket joint - a freely moving joint in which a sphere on the head of one bone fits into a rounded cavity in the other bone articulatio spheroidea, cotyloid joint, enarthrodial joint, enarthrosis, spheroid joint articulatio synovialis, diarthrosis, synovial joint - a joint so articulated as to move freely articulatio humeri, shoulder joint, shoulder - a ball-and-socket joint between the head of the humerus and a cavity of the scapula articulatio coxae, coxa, hip joint, hip - the ball-and-socket joint between the head of the femur and the acetabulum
	2.	ball-and-socket joint - a joint that can rotate within a socket joint - junction by which parts or objects are joined together socket - receptacle where something (a pipe or probe or end of a bone) is inserted

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Translations

ball-and-socket joint

n → Kugelgelenk nt

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007