Main Entry:

neu·ron

Pronunciation:

\ˈnü-ˌrän, ˈnyü-; ˈnu̇r-ˌän, ˈnyu̇r-\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

New Latin neuron, from Greek, nerve, sinew — more at nerve

Date:

1891

: a grayish or reddish granular cell with specialized processes that is the fundamental functional unit of nervous tissue

— neu·ro·nal \ˈnu̇r-ə-n^əl, ˈnyu̇r-; nu̇-ˈrō-n^əl, nyu̇-\ also neu·ron·ic \nu̇-ˈrä-nik, nyu̇-\ adjective

[neuron illustration]