{ } a. (Med.) Of, pertaining to, or employed in, orthopedics; relating to the prevention or cure of deformities of children, or, in general, of the human body at any age; as, orthopedic surgery; an orthopedic hospital. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Ortho- + Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;, a child. ] (Med.) The art or practice of correcting disorders or deformities of the spine and joints, or, by extension, any deformities of the human body. Syn. -- orthopaedics, orthopedy. [ WordNet 1.5 ]