nexus

American  

[nek-suhs] / ˈnɛk səs /

noun

nexuses, plural nexus plural

1. a means of connection; tie; link.

2. a connected series or group.

3. the core or center, as of a matter or situation.

4. Cell Biology. a specialized area of the cell membrane involved in intercellular communication and adhesion.

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nexus British  

/ ˈnɛksəs /

noun

1. a means of connection between members of a group or things in a series; link; bond

2. a connected group or series

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• nexus
  plural
• nexuses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of nexus

First recorded in 1655–65; from Latin nexus “a binding, joining, fastening,” noun use of past participle of nectere “to bind, join, tie”

Explanation

A nexus is a central link or connection. If you happen to be at the nexus of something, you are right in the middle of it, like standing in the middle of an intersection. Nexus entered English during the 17th century from the Latin word nectere, meaning "to bind or tie." People tend to use this word to describe the point where different things or ideas come together or intersect. In the field of cell biology, a nexus refers to a specialized area of the cell membrane that facilitates communication and adhesion between adjacent cells. By allowing ions and molecules to pass through, these nexuses ensure that tissues can function as a coordinated unit.

Example Sentences

“The real concern is that ‘GTA’ is a market-moving force in PC gaming and in gaming in general,” Steve Burke, editor-in-chief of the media channel Gamers Nexus, told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 25, 2026

Nexus has investments in the ACT, a college-entrance exam taken by millions of students, and Ruffalo Noel Levitz, an enrollment-management firm.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 24, 2026

Their work, published in Advanced Photonics Nexus, demonstrates a new way to perform high-speed optical feature extraction suitable for multiple real-world applications.

From Science Daily • Oct. 28, 2025

Ikea is not the only business struggling with how to respond to rising costs of operation, said Dominick Miserandino, a retail and consumer analyst and CEO of Retail Tech Media Nexus.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2025

I go to a Web site for a trusted-traveler program and have to decide whether to click on GOES, Nexus, GlobalEntry, Sentri, Flux, or FAST—bureaucratic terms that mean nothing to me.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker