spica Hear it!

spica Definition

spica (spī′kə)

noun

  1. pl. -·cae-sēBot. a spike, as of a flower
  2. Med. a kind of bandage wrapped back and forth with spiral overlapping around parts of a joint
  3. a binary star, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo: magnitude, 1.0, but it varies regularly by a magnitude of 0.1 as the fainter star eclipses its brighter companion

Etymology: L, ear of grain, orig., a point: see spike

spica Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • plaster: This young lady is in a hip spica plaster following surgery.

Noun used with modifier

  • hip: My dad along with his friend made Lydia a hip spica seat.
  • thumb: She was given a thumb spica plaster after closed reduction of the dislocation.