dactyl

• Nom avec deux sens distincts : en poésie, un pied métrique composé d'une syllabe accentuée suivie de deux syllabes non accentuées ; en anatomie, un doigt de la main, du pied ou un doigt correspondant chez les vertébrés.

A noun with two distinct meanings: in poetry, it refers to a metrical foot consisting of one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables; in anatomy, it refers to a finger, toe, or corresponding digit in vertebrates.

1. Metrical foot in poetryC1formal

   A metrical unit consisting of one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables.

   Dactyle (pied métrique)

   • The word 'elephant' is a natural dactyl.
   • Poets often use dactyls to create a rhythmic, galloping effect.
   • The opening line of the poem is written in dactylic hexameter.

2. Digit of a limbC1formalmedical

   A finger or toe in humans, or a corresponding body part in other vertebrates.

   Doigt ou orteil

   • Each human hand has five dactyls.
   • The fossil shows the arrangement of dactyls in the ancient reptile.
   • The condition affects the development of the dactyls.

   Synonymesdigit