Illustration of ball-and-socket joint
- ball-and-socket joint 1
ball-and-socket joint
noun
ball-and-sock·et joint
ˈbȯl-ən(d)-ˈsä-kət-
1
: a joint in which a ball moves within a socket so as to allow rotary motion in every direction within certain limits
2
: an articulation (such as the hip joint) in which the rounded head of one bone fits into a cuplike cavity of the other and admits movement in any direction
Cite this Entry
“Ball-and-socket joint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ball-and-socket%20joint. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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