steatopygous

A woman with a steatopygous figure stands in a traditional grass skirt.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having a pronounced accumulation of fat on the buttocks: "Steatopygous" describes a physical condition, typically in women, characterized by a high degree of adipose tissue (fat) in the gluteal region. This term is often used in anthropological or medical contexts to refer to a trait observed in certain populations, such as the Khoisan people of southern Africa.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The figurines from the prehistoric era often depict steatopygous female forms, suggesting a cultural ideal of fertility. (Describes statues with exaggeratedly fat buttocks.)
  • In some ethnic groups, a steatopygous physique is considered a sign of beauty and health. (Refers to the physical trait of having large, fatty buttocks.)

Advanced Usage

• "Steatopygous" in scientific literature: Used to describe a specific morphological feature in human biology.

  • The study examined the genetic basis of steatopygous development among the San people. (The research focused on the hereditary fat distribution on the buttocks.)

• "Steatopygous" as a descriptive term: Often employed in art history or anatomy.

  • The Venus of Willendorf is a classic example of a steatopygous representation. (The statue shows exaggerated buttock fat.)

Variants and Related Words

• Steatopygia (n): the condition of having excessive fat on the buttocks.

  • Steatopygia is more common in women than in men. (The state of being steatopygous.)

• Steatopygousness (n, rare): the quality of being steatopygous.

  • The steatopygousness of the figure was emphasized by the sculptor. (The trait of having fat buttocks.)

Synonyms

• Fat-bottomed: having a large, fat posterior.
• Gluteally adiposed: a medical term for fat accumulation on the buttocks.
• Big-bottomed: informal, describing large buttocks.

Related Idioms

• None commonly associated: "Steatopygous" is a technical term and does not appear in idiomatic expressions.