- the large funnel-shaped structure at the lower end of the trunk of most vertebrates: in humans it is formed by the hipbones and sacrum
- the bones that form this structure
- any anatomical cavity or structure shaped like a funnel or cup
- short for renal pelvis
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
pel•vis /ˈpɛlvɪs/USA pronunciation
n. [countable], pl. -vis•es, -ves /-viz/.USA pronunciation
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Anatomy
- the bowl-like space in the lower trunk of the body at the hips and the end of the spine.
- the bones forming this cavity.
pel•vis
(pel′vis),USA pronunciation n., pl. -vis•es, -ves (-vēz).USA pronunciation [Anat., Zool.]
- Anatomy, Zoologythe basinlike cavity in the lower part of the trunk of many vertebrates, formed in humans by the innominate bones, sacrum, etc.
- Anatomy, Zoologythe bones forming this cavity.
- Anatomy, Zoologythe cavity of the kidney that receives the urine before it is passed into the ureter. See diag. under kidney.
- Neo-Latin; Latin: basin; akin to Greek pellís bowl
- 1605–15
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
pelvis /ˈpɛlvɪs/ n ( pl -vises, -ves /-viːz/)
'pelvis' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
aitchbone
- back
- basilar
- calyx
- deep-vein thrombosis
- economy-class syndrome
- femur
- hip
- hip joint
- innominate bone
- lightening
- loin
- pelvimetry
- pelvic
- pubis
- pyelitis
- renal pelvis
- wine
- abdomen
- acetabulum
- belly
- belly dance
- bump
- caudal anesthesia
- collecting tubule
- Ewing's sarcoma
- iliac artery
- ilium
- ischium
- nephrolithotomy
- ornithischian
- pelvic girdle
- pelycosaur
- perineum
- psoas
- pubic symphysis
- pyelo-
- pyelonephritis
- pyelonephrosis
- trochanter
- sacrum
- saurischian
- sciatic nerve