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
ˈnu̇r-ə-nᵊl How to pronounce neuron (audio)
ˈnyu̇r-;
  nu̇-ˈrō-nᵊl How to pronounce neuron (audio)
nyu̇-
adjective
or less commonly neuronic
nu̇-ˈrä-nik How to pronounce neuron (audio)
nyu̇-

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The effect is driven by a specific group of neurons in the central amygdala, a brain region that processes fear and anxiety. — Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2026 Their tool, optogenetics, lets scientists switch neurons on and off with precision, helping map brain circuits and investigate conditions including blindness, depression, addiction and dementia. — Kostya Manenkov, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026 Measuring neuronal activity On top of visualizing the brain’s structures and layout, the ability to manipulate electricity has allowed researchers to learn how neurons communicate. — Kimberlee D'ardenne, The Conversation, 5 Oct. 2026 Deisseroth, 54, shared this year’s medicine prize with two researchers in Germany for their work in optogenetics, a field that combines light with genes to switch on and off neurons in living brains. — ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for neuron

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

Phrases Containing neuron

Rhymes for neuron

See All Rhymes for neuron

Browse Nearby Words

neuromuscular
neuron
neurone
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Neuron.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neuron. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

neuron

noun
neu·​ron ˈn(y)ü-ˌrän How to pronounce neuron (audio) ˈn(y)u̇(ə)r- ˌän How to pronounce neuron (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce neuron (audio) ˈn(y)u̇(ə)r-ˌän How to pronounce neuron (audio)
variants also neurone
-ˌrōn, -ˌōn How to pronounce neuron (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce neuron (audio) n(y)u̇-ˈrōn-ᵊl How to pronounce neuron (audio)
adjective
also neuronic
n(y)u̇-ˈrän-ik How to pronounce neuron (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on neuron

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about neuron

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