neuron

noun neu·ron \ ˈnü-ˌrän , ˈnyü- ; ˈnu̇r-ˌän , ˈnyu̇r- \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Definition of neuron

: a grayish or reddish granular cell that is the fundamental functional unit of nervous tissue transmitting and receiving nerve impulses and having cytoplasmic processes which are highly differentiated frequently as multiple dendrites or usually as solitary axons which conduct impulses to and away from the cell body : nerve cell 1

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neuronal

play \ˈnu̇r-ə-nᵊl, ˈnyu̇r-; nu̇-ˈrō-nᵊl, nyu̇-\ or less commonly neuronic play \nu̇-ˈrä-nik, nyu̇-\ adjective

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See neuron defined for kids

Recent Examples of neuron from the Web

On top of that, the amount of energy the brain utilizes in different animals is a function of how many neurons there are in the brain.

— mary carole mccauley, baltimoresun.com, "Ahead of book talk, Baltimore Symphony science adviser explains the psychology of curiosity," 26 May 2018
He was diagnosed with bulbar-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — an aggressive form of ALS, the incurable motor-neuron illness better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

— San Francisco Chronicle, "Sung from the heart: How a grim diagnosis created beautiful music," 12 May 2018
Generally, the issue is that all Mother Nature had to work with were cells, such as neurons.

— matthew hutson, Science | AAAS, "Free will, AI, and vibrating vests: investigating the science of Westworld," 2 May 2018
During impact, individual neurons can be stretched and damaged.

— brian resnick, Vox, "What a lifetime of playing football can do to the human brain," 30 Apr. 2018
Other super sensitive areas, such as your fingertips and forehead will also likely hurt to tattoo because those places are where your most pain-sensitive neurons are, according to this study published in the Annals of Neurology medical journal.

— rosemary donahue, Allure, "How Much Does Getting a Tattoo Hurt? The Experts Weigh In," 23 Apr. 2018
These neurons produce a protein, called corazonin, that turns on the ejaculation process.

— National Geographic, "Fruit Flies Likely Enjoy Sex, Offering Clues Into Drug Addiction," 19 Apr. 2018
This can be reduced, like most things related to the brain, to the patterns of spatially and temporally distinct and interdependent neuron activations.

— zach schonbrun, New York Times, "How Do Athletes’ Brains Control Their Movements?," 13 Apr. 2018
The amount of electricity generated by an individual neuron transmitting a single piece of information is incredibly tiny.

— betsy isaacson, Newsweek, "A Fitbit for Your Brain Is Around the Corner," 3 Apr. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'neuron.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of neuron

Origin and Etymology of neuron

borrowed from German Neuron, borrowed from Greek neûron "sinew, tendon, nerve" — more at ¹nerve

Note: Term introduced by the German anatomist Heinrich Wilhelm Waldeyer (Heinrich Wilhelm Gottfried von Waldeyer-Hartz, 1836-1921) in "Ueber einige neuere Forschungen im Gebiete der Anatomie der Centralnervensystems," Berliner klinische Wochenschrift, 28. Jahrgang, no. 28, July 13, 1891, p. 691: "Somit besteht ein Nervenelement (eine 'Nerveneinheit' oder 'Neuron', wie ich es zu nennen vorschlagen möchte), den genannten Forschungsergebnissen … zufolge, aus nachstehenden Stücken: a) einer Nervenzelle, b) dem Nervenfortsatze, c) dessen Collateralen und d) dem Endbäumchen." - "Therefore, in accordance with the cited research results, a nerve element (a 'nerve unit' or 'neuron,' as I would like to suggest as a name), consists of the following parts: a) a nerve cell, b) the nerve process [= axon], c) its collaterals and d) the end tree [= axon terminals]." Waldeyer apparently intended -on to be taken as a suffix, indicating a unit, rather than the Greek neuter singular inflectional ending, as he utilized Neuronen as the plural in the same article. Cf. French neurone and the English variant neurone.

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First Known Use: 1891

in the meaning defined above

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NEURON Defined for English Language Learners

neuron

noun

Definition of neuron for English Language Learners

medical : a cell that carries messages between the brain and other parts of the body and that is the basic unit of the nervous system

NEURON Defined for Kids

neuron

noun neu·ron \ ˈnü-ˌrän , ˈnyü- \

Definition of neuron for Students

: nerve cell

Medical Dictionary

neuron

noun neu·ron \ ˈn(y)ü-ˌrän , ˈn(y)u̇(ə)r-ˌän \

variants: also neurone play \-ˌrōn, -ˌōn\

medical Definition of neuron

: one of the cells that constitute nervous tissue, that have the property of transmitting and receiving nerve impulses, and that are composed of somewhat reddish or grayish protoplasm with a large nucleus containing a conspicuous nucleolus, irregular cytoplasmic granules, and cytoplasmic processes which are highly differentiated frequently as multiple dendrites or usually as solitary axons and which conduct impulses toward and away from the cell body : nerve cell 1

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