axon

noun

ax·​on ˈak-ˌsän 

variants or less commonly axone

ˈak-ˌsōn 

: a usually long and single nerve-cell process that usually conducts impulses away from the cell body see neuron illustration

axonal

ˈak-sə-nᵊl  ak-ˈsä-  -ˈsō- 

adjective

Examples of axon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the remaining five mice, the researchers tested a method using viruses to measure the full length of nerve projections known as axons. — Nora Bradford, Scientific American, 27 Aug. 2025

This protein is known to help guide axons – long extensions that neurons use to send information to each other – to their targets during development. — Ashley Brandebura, The Conversation, 11 Nov. 2025

Memristors, finally, will act as the synapses that mediate the information transfer between the dendrites and axons of different neurons. — Massimiliano Versace, IEEE Spectrum, 23 Nov. 2010

The researchers looked specifically at where gray matter (the body of a neuron) intersects with white matter (the long axons that project out of the cell body) — an area thought to be particularly vulnerable to head impacts. — The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin axon, from Greek axōn

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for axon

• anton
• argon
• baronne
• baryon
• baton
• boron
• buisson
• bygone
• capon
• cardon
• chiffon
• coupon

Kids Definition

axon

noun

ax·​on ˈak-ˌsän 

variants also axone

-ˌsōn 

: a usually long and single process of a neuron that usually carries impulses away from the cell body compare dendrite sense 2

axonal

ˈak-sən-ᵊl 

ak-ˈsän-, 

-ˈsōn-

adjective

Medical Definition

axon

noun

ax·​on ˈak-ˌsän 

variants also axone

-ˌsōn 

: a usually long and single nerve-cell process that usually conducts impulses away from the cell body