cuneiform

/ˈkjuniəˌfɔrm/

Other forms: cuneiforms

Cuneiform is a type of writing that was used in ancient Mesopotamia and Persia. In a museum, you might see artifacts such as stone tablets with cuneiform carved into them.

Cuneiform is typically pronounced "kyoo-NEE-uh-form." Back in Mesopotamian times, you would have written by carving wedge-shaped characters that make up a language called cuneiform. From the shape of the characters, we get the adjective cuneiform, which means "wedge-shaped," like a cuneiform platter. Cuneiform also describes wedge-shaped bones, like those found in the lower leg.

Definitions of cuneiform

1. noun

   an ancient wedge-shaped script used in Mesopotamia and Persia
   types:

   Babylonian

   the ideographic and syllabic writing system in which the ancient Babylonian language was written

   type of:

   script

   a particular orthography or writing system
2. adjective

   shaped like a wedge
   synonyms: cuneal, wedge-shaped
3. adjective

   of or relating to the tarsal bones (or other wedge-shaped bones)