cuneiform

/'kju:niifɔ:m/ Cách viết khác : (cuneate) /'kju:niit/

Thân thiện

The archaeologist carefully studies a clay tablet inscribed with cuneiform.

Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Relating to wedge-shaped bones: Specifically refers to the tarsi (ankle bones) or other bones that have a wedge-like shape.
   • Shaped like a wedge: Having a broad base that tapers to a point.

2. Noun:

   • An ancient writing system: One of the earliest known systems of writing, characterized by wedge-shaped marks made by pressing a stylus into soft clay tablets, primarily used in ancient Mesopotamia and Persia.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The cuneiform bones in the foot provide crucial structural support.
  • The artifact had a distinctive cuneiform shape.

• Noun:

  • Scholars study cuneiform to understand Sumerian and Akkadian civilizations.
  • The library contained thousands of clay tablets inscribed with cuneiform.

Advanced Usage

• In historical/archaeological context: The term is most frequently used to describe the script and the artifacts bearing it.
  • Deciphering cuneiform was a major breakthrough in Assyriology.

Variants and Related Words

• Cuneate (adj): An alternative adjective meaning wedge-shaped, often used in botanical or anatomical contexts (e.g., a cuneate leaf).
• Cuneiformist (n): A scholar who specializes in the study of cuneiform writing.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Wedge-shaped, cuneate.
• Noun: Wedge script, Mesopotamian script.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• No specific idioms are directly formed from the word "cuneiform." It is primarily a technical term used in anatomy, history, and archaeology.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. of or relating to the tarsal bones (or other wedge-shaped bones)
2. shaped like a wedge

Noun

1. an ancient wedge-shaped script used in Mesopotamia and Persia

Từ đồng nghĩa

• wedge-shaped
• cuneal