white matter

noun

: neural tissue especially of the brain and spinal cord that consists largely of myelinated nerve fibers bundled into tracts, has a whitish color, and typically underlies the cortical gray matter

Examples of white matter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In Snyder’s painting Grounding (2022–23), that takes the form of some white matter with a drizzling of translucent red over it. —Barry Schwabsky, ARTnews.com, 17 July 2024

Two other key areas — white matter, which contains connective fibers and delivers nerve signals, and the hippocampus, which processes memory – have also grown between 5.7% to 7.7%. —Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 3 May 2024

The increase in white matter suggests that brain cells are more interconnected, DeCarli said. —Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 3 May 2024

This neuroinflammation has been associated with changes in cerebral gray and white matter tissue. —Lauryn Higgins, Health, 16 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1674, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

white matter

noun

: whitish nerve tissue especially of the brain and spinal cord that consists largely of nerve fibers enclosed in a fatty material and that lies under the gray matter

Medical Definition

white matter

noun

: neural tissue especially of the brain and spinal cord that consists largely of myelinated nerve fibers bundled into tracts, has a whitish color, and typically underlies the gray matter