/ ˈvɜːtɪbrə; NAmE ˈvɜːrt-/ noun
( pl. ver·te·brae / -reɪ; NAmE ; -riː/) any of the small bones that are connected together to form the spine
—picture at skeleton
► ver·te·bral adjective [ only before noun ]
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent.: from Latin , from vertere to turn.