neuron

noun

neu·​ron ˈnü-ˌrän  ˈnyü-  ˈnu̇r-ˌän 

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

ˈnu̇r-ə-nᵊl 

ˈnyu̇r-;

  nu̇-ˈrō-nᵊl 

nyu̇-

adjective

or less commonly neuronic

nu̇-ˈrä-nik 

nyu̇-

Illustration of neuron

• 1 cell body
• 2 dendrite
• 3 axon
• 4 nerve ending

Examples of neuron in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The device, called 3D-MIND, embeds groups of living neurons within a three-dimensional electronic scaffold designed to support communication between biological tissue and computing hardware. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 8 May 2026

The mushroom contains hericenones and erinacines, compounds that stimulate nerve growth factor and support neuron growth and survival. —Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2026

These probes, called Neuropixels, allowed scientists to eavesdrop on the electrical signals produced by hundreds of individual neurons at once. —Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 6 May 2026

The hormone then travels to the locus coeruleus, a cluster of neurons in the brainstem that governs arousal. —Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 6 May 2026

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

Phrases Containing neuron

• associative neuron
• motor neuron

Rhymes for neuron

• motoneuron

Kids Definition

neuron

noun

neu·​ron ˈn(y)ü-ˌrän  ˈn(y)u̇(ə)r- ˌän 

: 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

neu·​ron ˈn(y)ü-ˌrän  ˈn(y)u̇(ə)r-ˌän 

variants also neurone

-ˌrōn, -ˌōn 

: 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

neuronal

ˈn(y)u̇r-ən-ᵊl  n(y)u̇-ˈrōn-ᵊl 

adjective

also neuronic

n(y)u̇-ˈrän-ik