Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

cerebrospinal fluid

American  

noun

Physiology.
  1. the fluid in the ventricles of the brain, between the arachnoid and pia mater, and surrounding the spinal cord.


cerebrospinal fluid British  

noun

  1.  CSF.  the clear colourless fluid in the spaces inside and around the spinal cord and brain

"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

cerebrospinal fluid Scientific  
/ sĕr′ə-brō-spīnəl,sə-rē′brō- /
  1. The clear fluid that fills the cavities of the brain and covers the surfaces of the brain and spinal cord. It lubricates the tissues and cushions them from shock and injury.


Etymology

Origin of cerebrospinal fluid

First recorded in 1895–1900

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.

See Examples For:

To administer genetic medicines against the tau protein tangles that are Alzheimer’s’ other main pathology, doctors must inject them directly into the cerebrospinal fluid.

From Barron's Jun. 3, 2026

The kind of contraction generated by walking moves cerebrospinal fluid out of the brain, leading Drew to hypothesize that the mechanism plays an important role in flushing out excess proteins and other unnecessary material.

From Los Angeles Times May 7, 2026

However, the results suggest that everyday movement may help circulate cerebrospinal fluid through the brain, aiding in the removal of waste and possibly lowering the risk of neurodegenerative diseases linked to waste buildup.

From Science Daily May 1, 2026

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

An excessive quantity of cerebrospinal fluid is present in most of the cases.

From Special Report on Diseases of the Horse by Michener, Charles B.

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training