1.
[syn: temporal bone, os temporale]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Temporal \Tem"po*ral\, a. [L. temporalis, fr. tempora the
temples: cf. F. temporal. See Temple a part of the head.]
(Anat.)
Of or pertaining to the temple or temples; as, the temporal
bone; a temporal artery.
[1913 Webster]
Temporal bone, a very complex bone situated in the side of
the skull of most mammals and containing the organ of
hearing. It consists of an expanded squamosal portion
above the ear, corresponding to the squamosal and zygoma
of the lower vertebrates, and a thickened basal petrosal
and mastoid portion, corresponding to the periotic and
tympanic bones of the lower vertebrates.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
temporal bone
n 1: a thick bone forming the side of the human cranium and
encasing the inner ear [syn: temporal bone, os
temporale]