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cerebral palsy

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR cerebral palsy ON THESAURUS.COM

noun Pathology.

a form of paralysis believed to be caused by a prenatal brain defect or by brain injury during birth, most marked in certain motor areas and characterized by difficulty in control of the voluntary muscles.

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RELATED WORDS

athetosis, palsy

Nearby words

  1. cerebral hemisphere,
  2. cerebral hemorrhage,
  3. cerebral hernia,
  4. cerebral lipidosis,
  5. cerebral localization,
  6. cerebral peduncle,
  7. cerebral sinus,
  8. cerebral sphingolipidosis,
  9. cerebral tetanus,
  10. cerebral thrombosis

Origin of cerebral palsy

First recorded in 1920–25
Related formscerebral palsied, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for cerebral palsy

cerebral palsy

noun

a nonprogressive impairment of muscular function and weakness of the limbs, caused by lack of oxygen to the brain immediately after birth, brain injury during birth, or viral infection
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

Medicine definitions for cerebral palsy

cerebral palsy

n.

A disorder usually caused by brain damage occurring at or before birth and marked by muscular impairment. Often accompanied by poor coordination, it sometimes involves speech and learning difficulties.
Related formscer′e•bral-pal′sied (sĕr′ə-brəl-pôl′zēd, sə-rē′-) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Science definitions for cerebral palsy

cerebral palsy

A motor disorder often caused by brain injury occurring at or before birth, characterized by muscular impairment and symptoms such as poor coordination, spasm, abnormal stiffness, speech difficulties, and sometimes paralysis. Some children with cerebral palsy have accompanying neurologic conditions such as epilepsy, learning disorders, and mental retardation.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Culture definitions for cerebral palsy

cerebral palsy

[ (pawl-zee) ]

A disorder marked by lack of muscle coordination and sometimes accompanied by speech defects. It is caused by brain damage present at birth or experienced during birth or infancy.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.