nerve cell

noun

1

: a grayish or reddish granular cell with specialized processes that is the fundamental functional unit of nervous tissue transmitting and receiving nerve impulses : neuron

2

: cell body

Examples of nerve cell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Every time brain tissue is given a good shake, structural proteins called tau can misfold and accumulate in toxic bundles, increasing the risk of nerve cells dying. — Mike McRae 15, New Atlas, 15 Sep. 2026

The approval marks another step forward for patients with spinal muscular atrophy, a rare and progressive disease that destroys nerve cells that control speaking, breathing, and walking. — Ed Silverman, STAT, 14 Sep. 2026

Many of these proteins are also cell-type specific; there’s a different population of DNA-binding proteins in liver cells, nerve cells, immune cells, and so on. — John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 9 Sep. 2026

The reason why seems to have to do with how energy-producing structures called mitochondria move through nerve cells. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 3 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for nerve cell

• bagatelle
• calomel
• caravel
• carousel
• carrousel
• citadel
• clientele
• commonweal
• coronel
• decibel
• demoiselle
• fontanelle

Kids Definition

nerve cell

noun

: neuron

also : cell body

Medical Definition

nerve cell

noun

1

: a grayish or reddish granular cell with specialized processes that is the fundamental functional unit of nervous tissue : neuron

2

: cell body