dendrite

noun

den·​drite ˈden-ˌdrīt 

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

However, dendrites can still grow through solid electrolytes, causing short circuits. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026

The drug not only bolstered dendrites but also improved the rats’ behaviors. —Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026

Inside the cell, the thin separator between the negative and positive electrodes is then at risk of being breached by these dendrites, leaving the positive side of the battery exposed. —New Atlas, 13 Mar. 2026

Gray matter consists of regions of nerve cell bodies and branching nerve fibers called dendrites, as well as points of connection between nerve cells. —Christopher M. Filley, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dendrite

• acquit
• admit
• amrit
• armpit
• backlit
• befit
• cockpit
• commit
• dalit
• emit
• illite
• misfit

Kids Definition

dendrite

noun

den·​drite ˈden-ˌdrīt 

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 

: any of the usually branching protoplasmic processes that conduct impulses toward the body of a nerve cell

dendritic

den-ˈdrit-ik 

adjective