noun / adjective
cuneiform
KYOO-nih-form/ˈkjuːnɪfɔːrm/
Having wedge-shaped forms.
The clay tablet bears cuneiform marks pressed into its surface.
Etymology
Literally “wedge-shaped,” cuneiform first described a shape. It became the name of a writing system because its characters were made with wedge-shaped writing tools.
In context
of today's spreadsheet a grid of boxes with symbols that represent numbers and pictures that represent commodities but the language of accountancy is limited eventually the distinctive wedge-shaped writing called cuneiform
More examples
- Scholars study cuneiform to understand ancient Mesopotamian records.
- The cuneiform bones in your foot help support its arch.
- She presses a reed into wet clay to make cuneiform symbols.
Forms
cuneiform
Similar words
- wedge-shaped
- Describes the shape directly, without suggesting ancient writing.