sulcus

noun

sul·​cus ˈsəl-kəs How to pronounce sulcus (audio)
plural sulci ˈsəl-ˌkī How to pronounce sulcus (audio)
-ˌkē,
-ˌsī How to pronounce sulcus (audio)
: furrow, groove
especially : a shallow furrow on the surface of the brain separating adjacent convolutions

Examples of sulcus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Interestingly, the brain also showed activity in areas related to understanding others and social cognition—such as the posterior superior temporal sulcus and the temporal regions—which might explain why good friendships often involve such a high level of empathy and understanding. Mark Travers, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024 Similarly, the region responsible for primary motor sensor, the central sulcus, also showed increased activity that lingered. Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 8 Feb. 2022 Researchers have tracked dyscalculia to a fold in the back of the brain known as the intraparietal sulcus, or IPS. Carlin Flora, Discover Magazine, 19 Nov. 2013 Neuroscientists have found that when people do mathematical intuition problems, a strip of neurons near the top of the brain, surrounding a fold called the intraparietal sulcus, consistently becomes active. Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 19 Aug. 2014 Indeed, one part of the brain – the superior temporal sulcus – is involved in processing the direction of gazes. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 30 Oct. 2012 In those young and older, the under-eye hollows and pre-jowl sulcus — the indents on either side of the chin — tend to suffer a similar fate. Jolene Edgar, refinery29.com, 6 Oct. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sulcus.' 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

Latin; akin to Old English sulh plow, Greek holkos furrow, helkein to pull

First Known Use

1662, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sulcus was in 1662

Dictionary Entries Near sulcus

Cite this Entry

“Sulcus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sulcus. Accessed 9 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

sulcus

noun
sul·​cus ˈsəl-kəs How to pronounce sulcus (audio)
plural sulci -ˌkī How to pronounce sulcus (audio) -ˌsī How to pronounce sulcus (audio)
: furrow, groove
especially : a shallow furrow on the surface of the brain separating adjacent convolutions compare fissure sense 1c

More from Merriam-Webster on sulcus

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