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cerebral

[ suh-ree-bruhl, ser-uh- ]
/ səˈri brəl, ˈsɛr ə- /
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See synonyms for cerebral on Thesaurus.com
adjective
Anatomy, Zoology. of or relating to the cerebrum or the brain.
betraying or characterized by the use of the intellect rather than intuition or instinct: His is a cerebral music that leaves many people cold.
Phonetics. retroflex (def. 2).
noun
Phonetics. a cerebral sound.
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Origin of cerebral

From the New Latin word cerebrālis, dating back to 1795–1805. See cerebrum, -al1

OTHER WORDS FROM cerebral

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to cerebral

analytical, intelligent, intellectual, brainy, deep, erudite, recondite, scholarly, smart

How to use cerebral in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for cerebral

cerebral
/ (ˈsɛrɪbrəl, US səˈriːbrəl) /
adjective
of or relating to the cerebrum or to the entire brain
involving intelligence rather than emotions or instinct
phonetics another word for cacuminal
noun
phonetics a consonant articulated in the manner of a cacuminal consonant

Derived forms of cerebral

cerebrally, adverb
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

Scientific definitions for cerebral

cerebral
[ sĕr′ə-brəl, sə-rē′brəl ]
Relating to or involving the brain or cerebrum.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for cerebral

cerebral
[ (suh-ree-bruhl, ser-uh-bruhl) ]

A descriptive term for things pertaining to the brain or cerebrum.

notes for cerebral

The term is also used figuratively to describe things that appeal to the intellect.
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.
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