cerebellum

noun

cer·e·bel·lum ˌser-ə-ˈbe-ləm

ˌse-rə-

plural cerebellums or cerebella ˌser-ə-ˈbe-lə

ˌse-rə-

: a large dorsally projecting part of the brain concerned especially with the coordination of muscles and the maintenance of bodily equilibrium, situated between the brain stem and the back of the cerebrum, and formed in humans of two lateral lobes and a median lobe see brain illustration

cerebellar

ˌser-ə-ˈbe-lər

ˌse-rə-

adjective

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web When the cerebellum goes offline, rabies victims stumble around in an agitated, zombie-like state. —

Alisa Bowman, Discover Magazine, 3 Mar. 2023 The results also showed expected damage to the cerebellum caused by the anti-epileptic drug phenytoin, which he was required to take throughout his life, as well as other damage typical of ageing. —

Alison Abbott, Scientific American, 30 Jan. 2014 Such changes are not isolated to a particular region of the brain, but seem to occur throughout - from cerebellum, which is critical to motor function and balance, to the visual cortex which processes visual information, to regions of the brain involved in producing cognitive functions. —

Gabriel A. Silva, Forbes, 27 Apr. 2021 The running mice lived up to a year, about normal for a mouse, despite having a shrunken cerebellum. —

Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 11 Oct. 2016 Research is finding that THC seems to particularly affect the development of the hippocampus, which is involved in memory; the amygdala, which is involved in processing emotion; and the cerebellum, which is involved in motor coordination and the perception of time. —

Andrea Petersen, WSJ, 8 Mar. 2022 Orr of the University of Minnesota and Zoghbi of Baylor College of Medicine collaborated to discover ATXN1, the gene whose mutations are responsible for spinocerebellar ataxia 1, in which neurons in the cerebellum degenerate and eliminate balance and coordination. —

Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 3 June 2022 Earlier this year, Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D., N.M.) also had a stroke in the cerebellum, a major structure in the back of the brain that helps coordinate movement, according to a February statement released by his chief of staff. —

Brianna Abbott, WSJ, 16 May 2022 Related:UT Southwestern to investigate the cerebellum with $25 million gift Roman Kondratov, a professor of biology at Cleveland State University, said the research provided compelling evidence for the role of fasting in extending lifespan. —

Dallas News, 7 July 2022 See More

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

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin, from Latin, diminutive of cerebrum

First Known Use

1543, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of cerebellum was in 1543

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Cerebellum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cerebellum. Accessed 7 Jun. 2023.

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Kids Definition

cerebellum

noun

cer·e·bel·lum ˌser-ə-ˈbel-əm

plural cerebellums or cerebella -ˈbel-ə

: a large portion of the back part of the brain that is concerned especially with the action of groups of muscles and with bodily balance

Medical Definition

cerebellum

noun

cer·e·bel·lum ˌser-ə-ˈbel-əm

plural cerebellums or cerebella -ˈbel-ə

: a large dorsally projecting part of the brain concerned especially with the coordination of muscles and the maintenance of bodily equilibrium, situated between the brain stem and the back of the cerebrum and formed in humans of two lateral lobes and a median lobe