dendrite

noun

den·​drite ˈden-ˌdrīt How to pronounce dendrite (audio)
1
: a branching treelike figure produced on or in a mineral by a foreign mineral
also : the mineral so marked
2
: a crystallized arborescent form
3
: any of the usually branching protoplasmic processes that conduct impulses toward the body of a neuron see neuron illustration

Examples of dendrite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Chen, whose research is partly funded by GM and the U.S. Department of Energy, has studied the cause of thermal runaway, which is the formation of lithium dendrite, a metal that can grow in tree-branch-like patterns along the battery. Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 1 Mar. 2024 Thousands of tiny neurons run axons — the brain’s transmission cables for electrical impulses — perpendicularly through the stack of dendrites, like threads in a loom. Rebecca Boyle, Quanta Magazine, 24 Jan. 2024 The technology is tantalizing, but it's troubled by the formation of dendrites—spikes of lithium crystals that can grow and puncture the cathode. Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 19 Sep. 2023 Other vital structures, the axons and dendrites — known collectively as neurites — that project from the nerve cells and send and receive messages are dependent on this neural transport network. Linda Marsa, Discover Magazine, 3 Dec. 2019 This can cause chemical reactions that produce very sharp lithium needles called dendrites on the battery’s anode – the electrode with a negative charge. Apparao Rao, The Conversation, 6 Feb. 2024 The fan’s blades are the neuron’s dendrites, which receive incoming signals. Rebecca Boyle, Quanta Magazine, 24 Jan. 2024 By emulating the brain’s dendrites, these chips would use less energy and, importantly, generate less heat. IEEE Spectrum, 11 Dec. 2023 But a new approach instead aims to act like dendrites, the spindly structures that branch out from the nucleus of a neuron like the roots of a tree. IEEE Spectrum, 11 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dendrite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1751, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dendrite was in 1751

Dictionary Entries Near dendrite

Cite this Entry

“Dendrite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dendrite. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dendrite

noun
den·​drite ˈden-ˌdrīt How to pronounce dendrite (audio)
1
: a branching figure (as in a mineral or stone) resembling a tree
2
: any of the usually branching extensions of a neuron over which impulses travel toward the cell body compare axon
dendritic
den-ˈdrit-ik
adjective

Medical Definition

dendrite

noun
den·​drite ˈden-ˌdrīt How to pronounce dendrite (audio)
: any of the usually branching protoplasmic processes that conduct impulses toward the body of a nerve cell
dendritic adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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