nerve ending

noun

: a structure forming the distal end of a nerve axon see neuron illustration

Examples of nerve ending in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The nanoneedles penetrate only the outer layers of the skin, avoiding nerve endings while capturing proteins, genetic material, and disease biomarkers. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 Jan. 2026

Other nerve endings can recognize the alarm signals that immune cells send to one another. —The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Dec. 2025

When the patch is pressed against the user's skin, the polymer needles only pierce the very top layer of the skin, not reaching the underlying nerve endings. —New Atlas, 12 Dec. 2025

When bitten by the southern black widow, the spider’s venom attacks the nerve endings in muscles that can cause severe pain and muscle cramps at the source of the bite, which can then spread throughout the body. —Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 31 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nerve ending

• apprehending
• comprehending
• condescending
• overspending
• recommending
• unoffending
• unpretending
• amending
• appending
• ascending
• attending
• befriending

Kids Definition

nerve ending

noun

: a structure forming an end of a nerve axon that is distant from the cell body

Medical Definition

nerve ending

noun

: the structure in which the distal end of the axon of a nerve fiber terminates

called also nerve end