cerebrospinal fluid

noun

: a colorless liquid that is comparable to serum, is secreted from the blood into the lateral ventricles of the brain, and serves chiefly to maintain uniform pressure within the brain and spinal cord

Examples of cerebrospinal fluid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Testing of cerebrospinal fluid would reveal bacterial meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b, or Hib, an infection that could kill a child or leave lasting neurological damage. — Katrine L. Wallace, The Conversation, 30 Oct. 2026

Two new clades of the virus, SHAV-EU1 and SHAV-EU2, were detected earlier this year, and genetic testing revealed traces of the first type in the deceased person’s cerebrospinal fluid, urine and saliva, among other samples. — Sahas Mehra, Scientific American, 28 Oct. 2026

Sometimes, if additional data is needed, a doctor will recommend a lumbar puncture to check for the presence of certain proteins in cerebrospinal fluid. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026

In May 2025 The Piano Man was forced to cancel all shows after being diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cerebrospinal fluid

• druid
• superfluid

Kids Definition

cerebrospinal fluid

noun

ce·​re·​bro·​spi·​nal fluid

sə-ˌrē-brō-ˌspīn-ᵊl-

: a colorless fluid that occupies the cavities of the brain and spinal cord and the space between these and the membranes surrounding them

Medical Definition

cerebrospinal fluid

noun

: a liquid that is comparable to serum but contains less dissolved material, that is secreted from the blood into the lateral ventricles of the brain by the choroid plexus, circulates through the ventricles to the spaces between the meninges about the brain and spinal cord, and is resorbed into the blood through the subarachnoid sinuses, and that serves chiefly to maintain uniform pressure within the brain and spinal cord

called also spinal fluid

compare lymph