central nervous system

American  

noun

1. the part of the nervous system comprising the brain and spinal cord.

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central nervous system British  

noun

1.  CNS.  the mass of nerve tissue that controls and coordinates the activities of an animal. In vertebrates it consists of the brain and spinal cord Compare autonomic nervous system

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central nervous system Scientific  

1. The part of the nervous system in vertebrate animals that consists of the brain and spinal cord.

2. Compare peripheral nervous system

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central nervous system Cultural  

1. The brain and spinal cord. (See nervous system).

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Etymology

Origin of central nervous system

First recorded in 1890–95

Compare meaning

How does central-nervous-system compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• central nervous system vs. peripheral nervous system

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

central nervous system

Future studies are expected to focus on orthotopic validation, optimizing dosing strategies, tracking nitric oxide activity over longer periods, and investigating the underlying mechanisms in additional central nervous system tumor models.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 27, 2026

Many contain large amounts of caffeine, which stimulates the central nervous system and makes you feel more awake.

From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026

Over time, however, the central nervous system largely loses its ability to regrow damaged axons.

From Science Daily ● May 29, 2026

Following the rise of commercial web browsers in the 1990s, the internet erased the constraints of geography and became the central nervous system of the global economy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026

Eastern equine encephalitis, caused by the prick of a mosquito, attacks the brain and central nervous system.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson