释义 |
tho·rax \ˈthōrˌaks, -ȯr-\ noun (plural thoraxes \-sə̇z\ ; or tho·ra·ces \ˈthōrəˌsēz, -ȯr also thəˈrāˌs-\) Etymology: Middle English, from Latin, corslet, chest, from Greek thōrax; perhaps akin to Sanskrit dhārayati he holds, carries, keeps — more at firm 1. : the part of the body of man and other mammals situated between the neck and the abdomen and supported by the ribs, costal cartilages, and sternum; also : thoracic cavity 2. [New Latin, from Latin] a. : a portion of the insect body that is the middle of the three chief divisions of the body and that consists of three segments each commonly bearing a pair of legs and the last two each usually bearing a pair of wings in the adult b. : the corresponding part of a crustacean or arachnid usually fused with the head to form a cephalothorax c. : the anterior division of the body of a zooid of a compound ascidian comprising the branchial sac and surrounding atrium d. : an anterior differentiated part of the body behind the head of many tubicolous polychaete worms 3. : breastplate, cuirass, corslet; especially : the breastplate worn by the ancient Greeks |