Distal

/ˈdɪstl/
adjective

Situated farthest from the center, middle, or point of reference.

The distal part of the arm is the hand.
Visual representation of "distal" - Situated farthest from the center, middle, or point of reference.

Often appears as...

  • distal end
  • distal part

Usage tips

Technical

adjective

Relating to or denoting the element in a grammatical construction that is farthest from the head of the sentence.

In the sentence 'John, who you met yesterday, is my brother', 'is my brother' is the distal element.
Visual representation of "distal" - Relating to or denoting the element in a grammatical construction that is farthest from the head of the sentence.

Often appears as...

  • distal element
  • distal construction

Usage tips

Academic

adjective

Situated away from the point of attachment or origin or a central point especially of the body.

The distal leaves of the plant are usually smaller than the ones closer to the base.
Visual representation of "distal" - Situated away from the point of attachment or origin or a central point especially of the body.

Often appears as...

  • distal leaves
  • distal point

Usage tips

Technical

adjective

Situated farthest from the center, middle, or point of reference.

The distal part of the arm is the hand.
Visual representation of "distal" - Situated farthest from the center, middle, or point of reference.

Often appears as...

  • distal end
  • distal part

Usage tips

Technical

adjective

Relating to or denoting the element in a grammatical construction that is farthest from the head of the sentence.

In the sentence 'John, who you met yesterday, is my brother', 'is my brother' is the distal element.
Visual representation of "distal" - Relating to or denoting the element in a grammatical construction that is farthest from the head of the sentence.

Often appears as...

  • distal element
  • distal construction

Usage tips

Academic

adjective

Situated away from the point of attachment or origin or a central point especially of the body.

The distal leaves of the plant are usually smaller than the ones closer to the base.
Visual representation of "distal" - Situated away from the point of attachment or origin or a central point especially of the body.

Often appears as...

  • distal leaves
  • distal point

Usage tips

Technical

Definition 1 of 3
Visual representation of "distal"
LampPro Tip 1/3

Spatial Position

Distal indicates a specific position, usually far from a central point, in body-related terms.

Illustration for Spatial Position
The distal joints in the finger are those farthest from the palm.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Not Proximal

Distal is the opposite of 'proximal', which means nearest to the center or point of reference.

Illustration for Not Proximal
In a diagram, mark the proximal and distal ends.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Medical Context

Distal is mostly used in medical or anatomical contexts, less in everyday language.

Illustration for Medical Context
The surgeon focused on the distal region of the limb.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Spatial Position

Distal indicates a specific position, usually far from a central point, in body-related terms.

Illustration for Spatial Position
The distal joints in the finger are those farthest from the palm.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Not Proximal

Distal is the opposite of 'proximal', which means nearest to the center or point of reference.

Illustration for Not Proximal
In a diagram, mark the proximal and distal ends.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Medical Context

Distal is mostly used in medical or anatomical contexts, less in everyday language.

Illustration for Medical Context
The surgeon focused on the distal region of the limb.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Spatial Position

Distal indicates a specific position, usually far from a central point, in body-related terms.

Illustration for Spatial Position
The distal joints in the finger are those farthest from the palm.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Not Proximal

Distal is the opposite of 'proximal', which means nearest to the center or point of reference.

Illustration for Not Proximal
In a diagram, mark the proximal and distal ends.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Medical Context

Distal is mostly used in medical or anatomical contexts, less in everyday language.

Illustration for Medical Context
The surgeon focused on the distal region of the limb.
Visual representation of the word "Distal"

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Video examples

How cancer cells...

we still haven't beaten it. Two out of five people in the US will develop cancer in their lifetime. Of those, 90 percent will succumb to the disease due to metastases. Metastasis is a spread of cancer from a primary site to a distal site,

Video examples

This Man Helps Nat Geo...

accomplish the photograph that never been done before I think that's the bottom line on the distal part McNichols still winter chill air sacs and mark Tyson used infrared service system that I made

Video examples

How cancer cells...

we still haven't beaten it. Two out of five people in the US will develop cancer in their lifetime. Of those, 90 percent will succumb to the disease due to metastases. Metastasis is a spread of cancer from a primary site to a distal site,

Video examples

This Man Helps Nat Geo...

accomplish the photograph that never been done before I think that's the bottom line on the distal part McNichols still winter chill air sacs and mark Tyson used infrared service system that I made

Example 1 of 2
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