cerebrospinal

American

[suh-ree-broh-spahyn-l, ser-uh-] / səˌri broʊˈspaɪn l, ˌsɛr ə- /

adjective

Anatomy, Physiology.

pertaining to or affecting the brain and the spinal cord.
of or relating to the central nervous system.

cerebrospinal British

/ ˌsɛrɪbrəʊˈspaɪnəl /

adjective

of or relating to the brain and spinal cord

"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

Etymology

Origin of cerebrospinal

First recorded in 1820–30; cerebro- + spinal

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

During those misses, the scientists observed a surge of cerebrospinal fluid through and out of the brain.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

One important function of sleep involves cerebrospinal fluid, which surrounds and cushions the brain.

From Science Daily • Jan. 20, 2026

All the volunteers will have the current gold-standard tests for Alzheimer's which involve a specialised brain PET scan using a radioactive tracer, or a lumbar puncture to remove a sample of cerebrospinal fluid.

From BBC • Jan. 18, 2026

Symptoms of NPH — in which cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the ventricles of the brain but pressure doesn’t increase — include difficulty walking, according to the Alzheimer’s Assn.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2025

Epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis is a very fatal disease at times in America.

From Essays In Pastoral Medicine by ?Malley, Austin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023