: the broad, dorsal, upper, and largest of the three principal bones composing either half of the pelvis
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebThe ilium looks like those of a living group of frogs called the helmeted frogs. Lucas Joel, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2020 The last bones to go, the ilium and sacrum (the big hip bones atop the skeleton) are the heaviest bone structure. Steve Johnson And Phil Geib, chicagotribune.com, 3 Feb. 2018
Word History
Etymology
New Latin, alteration of Latin ilia
First Known Use
1706, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
ilium
noun
il·i·um ˈil-ē-əm
plural ilia -ē-ə
: the dorsal, upper, and largest one of the three bones composing either lateral half of the pelvis that in humans is broad and expanded above and narrower below where it joins with the ischium and pubis to form part of the acetabulum