electrotonus

American

[ih-lek-trot-n-uhs, ee-lek-] / ɪ lɛkˈtrɒt n əs, ˌi lɛk- /

noun

Physiology.

the altered state of a nerve during the passage of an electric current through it.

electrotonus British

/ ɪlɛkˈtrɒtənəs, ˌiːlɛk- /

noun

physiol the change in the state of irritability and conductivity of a nerve or muscle caused by the passage of an electric current

"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

Other Word Forms

electrotonic

adjective

Etymology

Origin of electrotonus

From New Latin, dating back to 1855–60; see origin at electro-, tonus

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