1.
2.
[syn: adaxial, ventral]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Ventral \Ven"tral\, a. [L. ventralis, fr. venter the belly;
perhaps akin to G. wanst: cf. F. ventral.]
1. (Anat.) Of, pertaining to, or situated near, the belly, or
ventral side, of an animal or of one of its parts; hemal;
abdominal; as, the ventral fin of a fish; the ventral root
of a spinal nerve; -- opposed to dorsal.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Bot.)
(a) Of or pertaining to that surface of a carpel, petal,
etc., which faces toward the center of a flower.
(b) Of or pertaining to the lower side or surface of a
creeping moss or other low flowerless plant. Opposed
to dorsal.
[1913 Webster]
Ventral fins (Zool.), the posterior pair of fins of a fish.
They are often situated beneath the belly, but sometimes
beneath the throat.
Ventral segment. (Acoustics) See Loop, n., 5.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
ventral
adj 1: toward or on or near the belly (front of a primate or
lower surface of a lower animal); "the ventral aspect of
the human body"; "the liver is somewhat ventral in
position"; "ventral (or pelvic) fins correspond to the
hind limbs of a quadruped" [ant: dorsal]
2: nearest to or facing toward the axis of an organ or organism;
"the upper side of a leaf is known as the adaxial surface"
[syn: adaxial, ventral] [ant: abaxial, dorsal]