neuron

noun

neu·​ron ˈnü-ˌrän How to pronounce neuron (audio) ˈnyü- How to pronounce neuron (audio) ˈnu̇r-ˌän How to pronounce neuron (audio)
ˈnyu̇r-
: 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 sense 1
neuronal adjective
or less commonly neuronic

Illustration of neuron

Illustration of neuron
  • 1 cell body
  • 2 dendrite
  • 3 axon
  • 4 nerve ending

Examples of neuron in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Birds can regenerate neurons in their brains in places where humans can’t. Nicholas Stfleur, STAT, 15 Mar. 2024 Previous studies of neurons had established that these channels are important for tuning neurons’ precision, but their role in adjusting the behavior of motor neurons specifically was unclear. Quanta Magazine, 11 Mar. 2024 Battered and scarred blood vessels that are no longer able to support neurons. Dave Philipps, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Brain waves are the result of thousands of neurons making connections and communicating through electric signals. Emily Mullin, WIRED, 6 Mar. 2024 Similar results were observed when analyzing human neurons for expression of oxidation resistance 1 and life span. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 In these systems, components known as neurons are fed data and cooperate to solve a problem, such as recognizing faces. IEEE Spectrum, 4 Mar. 2024 The urine of the women who get UTIs also contained a neuropeptide that’s made when neurons are activated. Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 1 Mar. 2024 The electrodes are then implanted into the brain itself and relay electrical signals from neurons, per the Wall Street Journal. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 30 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'neuron.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

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.

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of neuron was in 1891

Dictionary Entries Near neuron

Cite this Entry

“Neuron.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neuron. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

neuron

noun
: a grayish or reddish cell that is the basic working unit of the nervous system and has an axon and dendrites that carry nerve impulses

Medical Definition

neuron

noun
variants also neurone
: 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 sense 1

More from Merriam-Webster on neuron

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