central nervous system

noun

: the part of the nervous system which in vertebrates consists of the brain and spinal cord, to which sensory impulses are transmitted and from which motor impulses pass out, and which coordinates the activity of the entire nervous system compare peripheral nervous system

Examples of central nervous system in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

How Caffeine Causes Blood Pressure to Rise Caffeine is a stimulant that acts on the central nervous system. —Md Published, Verywell Health, 8 Dec. 2025

The viral disease affects mammals’ central nervous systems and is primarily spread through scratches and bites from infected animals. —Nathan Diller, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025

The platform also acts as the central nervous system for robots, compactly combining high-performance computing, sensors, and software to create a machine that can learn from its surroundings. —Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 22 Nov. 2025

Walking backwards also activates the central nervous system and peripheral nerves. —Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 18 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for central nervous system

• cryptosystem
• ecosystem
• intersystem
• multisystem
• photosystem
• subsystem

Kids Definition

central nervous system

noun

: the part of the nervous system that in vertebrates consists of the brain and spinal cord

Medical Definition

central nervous system

noun

: the part of the nervous system which in vertebrates consists of the brain and spinal cord, to which sensory impulses are transmitted and from which motor impulses pass out, and which supervises and coordinates the activity of the entire nervous system compare autonomic nervous system, peripheral nervous system