lumbar

From Latin lumbāris, from lumbus (“loin”) + -āris.^[1] See loin.

• (UK) enPR: lŭmʹbä IPA^(key): /ˈlʌm.bɑː/
• (General American) enPR: lŭmʹbär, lŭmʹbər IPA^(key): /ˈlʌm.bɑɹ/, /ˈlʌm.bɚ/

  • Audio (US); /ˈlʌm.bɑɹ/:

    (file)

  • Audio (US); /ˈlʌm.bɚ/:

    (file)

• Homophone: lumber (one pronunciation)
• Rhymes: -ʌmbɑː(ɹ), -ʌmbə(ɹ)

lumbar (comparative more lumbar, superlative most lumbar)

1. Related to the lower back or loin, specifically the five vertebrae between the rib cage and the pelvis.

   Synonym: lumbal

   • 2008, David J. Magee, Orthopedic Physical Assessment, 5th edition, page 515:

     The lumbar spine supports the upper body and transmits the weight of the upper body to the pelvis and lower limbs.

lumbar (plural lumbars)

2. (informal) The lumbar region.

   Synonyms: low back, lower back, small of the back

3. A lumbar vertebra.
   • 1905, Robert W. Lovett, “The mechanism of the normal spine and its relation to scoliosis”, in Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, volume 153, number 13, pages 354–355:

     The first lumbar moved between the erect position and extreme flexion 8.2 cm.

• Labrum, brumal, labrum, umbral

• IPA^(key): (Central) [lumˈbar]
• IPA^(key): (Balearic) [lumˈba]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [lumˈbaɾ]

lumbar m or f (masculine and feminine plural lumbars)

1. (anatomy) lumbar

• llom

• “lumbar”, in Diccionari de la llengua catalana [Dictionary of the Catalan Language] (in Catalan), second edition, Institute of Catalan Studies [Catalan: Institut d'Estudis Catalans], April 2007
• “lumbar”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2025.
• “lumbar” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• “lumbar” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.

lumbar m or f (plural lumbares)

1. (anatomy) lumbar

• vértebra lumbar

• lombo

• “lumbar”, in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega (in Galician), A Coruña: Royal Galician Academy, 2012–2025

From Latin lumbus (“loin”) +‎ -ar.

• IPA^(key): /lumˈbaɾ/ [lũmˈbaɾ]
• Rhymes: -aɾ
• Syllabification: lum‧bar

lumbar m or f (masculine and feminine plural lumbares)

1. lumbar

• “lumbar”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 10 December 2024