encephalon

[ en-sef-uh-lon, -luhn ]
/ ɛnˈsɛf əˌlɒn, -lən /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR encephalon ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural en·ceph·a·la [en-sef-uh-luh]. /ɛnˈsɛf ə lə/.

Anatomy. the brain.

QUIZZES

DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

It’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!
Question 1 of 7
What does “vacillate” mean?
to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.
to cause to be empty or unoccupied.
to assent tacitly; agree; consent.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of encephalon

1735–45; <New Latin, alteration (-on for -os) of Greek enképhalos (adj.) within the head, as masculine noun, brain; see en-2, -cephalous

Words nearby encephalon

encephalomyelopathy, encephalomyeloradiculitis, encephalomyeloradiculopathy, encephalomyocarditis, encephalomyocarditis virus, encephalon, encephalopathy, encephalopyosis, encephalorrhagia, encephaloschisis, encephalosclerosis
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to encephalon

head, intellect, wit, mentality, cerebellum, cerebrum, gray matter, medulla oblongata, upper story

Example sentences from the Web for encephalon

British Dictionary definitions for encephalon

encephalon
/ (ɛnˈsɛfəˌlɒn) /

noun plural -la (-lə)

a technical name for brain

Derived forms of encephalon

encephalous, adjective

Word Origin for encephalon

C18: from New Latin, from Greek enkephalos brain (literally: that which is in the head), from en- ² + kephalē head
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

Medical definitions for encephalon

encephalon
[ ĕn-sĕf′ə-lŏn′ ]

n. pl. en•ceph•a•la (-lə)

brain

Other words from encephalon

en•ceph′a•lous adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.