amygdala

[ uh-mig-duh-luh ]

/ əˈmɪg də lə /

noun, plural a·myg·da·lae [uh-mig-duh-lee] /əˈmɪg dəˌli/. Anatomy.

an almond-shaped part, as a tonsil.

a ganglion of the limbic system adjoining the temporal lobe of the brain and involved in emotions of fear and aggression.

Nearby words

Origin of amygdala

before 950; < Medieval Latin: almond, tonsil, Latin: almond < Greek amygdálē; replacing Middle English amygdal, Old English amigdal almond < Latin amygdalon < Greek amýgdalon; cf. almond

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for amygdala

Psychopaths lack fear, conscience, and morality—functions critically subserved by the amygdala.
What Made the Boston Bombers Do It|Adrian Raine|May 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
One limbic structure affected by this early maldevelopment is the amygdala, which generates emotions like fear.
What Made the Boston Bombers Do It|Adrian Raine|May 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
His aorta and amygdala do not receive this information by automatic transfer.
Does Fatherhood Make You Healthy?|Anneli Rufus|September 29, 2011|DAILY BEAST
That suggests that “the amygdala is quite sensitive to the quality of maternal care,” says Lupien.
How Sad Moms Change a Child’s Brain|Sharon Begley|August 22, 2011|DAILY BEAST

These feelings are stored separately, in the brain region called the amygdala.
How to Erase Your Memories|Casey Schwartz|November 7, 2008|DAILY BEAST
The common English name is from the Latin amandola, corrupted from amygdala.
The Nut Culturist|Andrew S. Fuller

British Dictionary definitions for amygdala

amygdala

/ (əˈmɪɡdələ) /

noun plural -lae (-ˌliː)

anatomy an almond-shaped part, such as a tonsil or a lobe of the cerebellum

Word Origin for amygdala

C16: from Medieval Latin: almond

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for amygdala

amygdala

"the tonsils," 1540s (amygdal), from Latin, from Greek amygdale "almond" (see almond). The anatomical use is as a direct translation of Arabic al-lauzatani "the two tonsils," literally "the two almonds," so called by Arabic physicians for fancied resemblance. From early 15c. as amygdales "tonsils;" as "almonds" from mid-12c.

Medicine definitions for amygdala

amygdala

[ ə-mĭg′də-lə ]

n. pl. a•myg•da•lae (-lē)

One of two small, almond-shaped masses of gray matter that are part of the limbic system and are located in the temporal lobes of the cerebral hemispheres.amygdaloid nucleus

The cerebellar tonsil.

Any of the lymphatic tonsils.

Science definitions for amygdala

amygdala

[ ə-mĭg′də-lə ]

Plural amygdalae (ə-mĭg′də-lē)

An almond-shaped mass of gray matter in the front part of the temporal lobe of the cerebrum that is part of the limbic system and is involved in the processing and expression of emotions, especially anger and fear.