definitions

concussion

[ kuh n-kuhsh-uh n ]
/ kənˈkʌʃ ən /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR concussion ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Pathology. injury to the brain or spinal cord due to jarring from a blow, fall, or the like.
shock caused by the impact of a collision, blow, etc.
the act of violently shaking or jarring.

RELATED CONTENT

CTERead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

bump, injury, trauma, shock, blow, impact, crash, clash, jounce, jar, jolt, clout, punch, crack, blast, hit, pounding, buffeting, jarring, jolting

Nearby words

concurrently, concurring, concurring opinion, concuss, concussed, concussion, concussion grenade, concyclic, cond., condemn, condemnation

Origin of concussion

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin concussiōn- (stem of concussiō) a shaking. See concuss, -ion
Related formscon·cus·sion·al, con·cus·sant [kuh n-kuhs-uh nt] /kənˈkʌs ənt/, adjectivecon·cus·sive, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for concussion

British Dictionary definitions for concussion

concussion

/ (kənˈkʌʃən) /

noun

a jarring of the brain, caused by a blow or a fall, usually resulting in loss of consciousness
any violent shaking; jarring
Derived Formsconcussive, adjective
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

Word Origin and History for concussion

concussion

n.

c.1400, from Latin concussionem (nominative concussio) "a shaking," noun of action from past participle stem of concutere "shake violently," from com- "together" (see com-) + quatere "to shake" (see quash). Modern brain injury sense is from 1540s.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine definitions for concussion

concussion

[ kən-kŭsh′ən ]

n.

A violent shaking or jarring.
An injury to a soft structure, especially the brain, produced by a violent blow and followed by a temporary or prolonged loss of function.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Science definitions for concussion

concussion

[ kən-kŭsh′ən ]

An injury to a soft structure, especially the brain, produced by a violent blow or impact and followed by a temporary, sometimes prolonged, loss of function. A concussion of the brain results in transient loss of consciousness or memory.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.