neuron

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

|Updated on: 10 Aug 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

See neuron defined for English-language learners

See neuron defined for kids

Recent Examples of neuron from the Web

Researchers have long tried to regenerate patients’ neurons by having them stare at some kind of stimuli on computers or TV screens.

— rebecca robbins, STAT, "A daredevil researcher’s latest quest: to restore sight lost to glaucoma using virtual reality," 2 July 2018
Her PopCon audience was more familiar with Nebula than neurons.

— sarah bahr, Indianapolis Star, "Playing video games could help fight Alzheimer’s, Down syndrome," 1 July 2018
Could near-infrared light be used to excite, or trigger neurons?

— rob reid, Ars Technica, "Ars on your lunch break, week 3: Mary Lou Jepsen on AI and spooky brain scans," 29 June 2018
But triggering patients' laryngeal muscles by stimulating the associated neurons strongly enforces the case for a causal link.

— robbie gonzalez, WIRED, "One Sentence With 7 Meanings Unlocks a Mystery of Human Speech," 28 June 2018
Basically, these butt neurons fire to contract the muscles surrounding parts of the colon, which then force waste through the last leg of the digestive relay race that usually takes place in the bathroom.

— matthew martinez, miamiherald, "Your body has a 'second brain,' and here's how it keeps your butt smart, study says," 1 June 2018
The team also used optogenetics, which deploys lasers to control living cells, to stimulate striatal neurons in mice.

— emily underwood, Science | AAAS, "Could deep brain stimulation help zap diabetes?," 23 May 2018
The hypothesis is that new neurons are kept in waiting, ready to latch on to new experiences.

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Mounting toll of Alzheimer's in lives, dollars in San Diego spelled out in reports," 20 Apr. 2018
Fewer than 5 percent of the neurons, called retinal ganglion cells, grew back.

— rebecca robbins, STAT, "A daredevil researcher’s latest quest: to restore sight lost to glaucoma using virtual reality," 2 July 2018

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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