: a small bone or bony structure (such as the malleus, incus, or stapes)
Examples of ossicle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In some sense, the emergence of the ossicle may have increased the odds of our being here.
—
Jim Daley,
Scientific American,
5 Dec. 2019
Once your eardrum starts vibrating, the ossicles in your middle ear start vibrating, too.
—
Amber Brenza,
SELF,
4 Feb. 2018
The auditory ossicles of the middle ear – the malleus, incus and stapes – are the tiniest bones in the human body.
—
Emily Matchar,
Smithsonian,
18 Dec. 2017
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Jim Daley,
Scientific American,
5 Dec. 2019
Once your eardrum starts vibrating, the ossicles in your middle ear start vibrating, too.
—
Amber Brenza,
SELF,
4 Feb. 2018
The auditory ossicles of the middle ear – the malleus, incus and stapes – are the tiniest bones in the human body.
—
Emily Matchar,
Smithsonian,
18 Dec. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Ossicle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ossicle. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ossicle
noun
os·si·cle
ˈäs-i-kəl 
: a small bone or bony structure (as one of the three small bones of the middle ear)
Etymology
Latin, literally, "small bone"
Medical Definition
ossicle
noun
os·si·cle
ˈäs-i-kəl
: a small bone or bony structure
especially
: any of three small bones of the middle ear including the malleus, incus, and stapes
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