hydrocephalus

[hahy-druh-sef-uh-luh s]

noun Pathology.

an accumulation of serous fluid within the cranium, especially in infancy, due to obstruction of the movement of cerebrospinal fluid, often causing great enlargement of the head; water on the brain.

Also hy·dro·ceph·a·ly

[hahy-druh-sef-uh-lee] /ˌhaɪ drəˈsɛf ə li/.

Origin of hydrocephalus

1660–70; < Late Latin hydrocephalus (morbus) water-headed (sickness), translation of Greek tò hydroképhalon (páthos). See hydro-¹, -cephalous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hydrocephaly

Historical Examples of hydrocephaly

The bombé forehead is characteristic of hydrocephaly, but may occur also in the scaphoid cranium.
Pedagogical Anthropology
Maria Montessori

British Dictionary definitions for hydrocephaly

hydrocephalus

hydrocephaly (ˌhaɪdrəʊˈsɛfəlɪ)

noun

accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the ventricles of the brain because its normal outlet has been blocked by congenital malformation or disease. In infancy it usually results in great enlargement of the headNontechnical name: water on the brain

Derived Formshydrocephalic (ˌhaɪdrəʊsɛˈfælɪk), hydrocephaloid or hydrocephalous, 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 hydrocephaly

hydrocephalus

1660s, medical Latin, from Greek hydro- "water" (see water (n.1)) + kephale "head" (see cephalo-). Related: Hydrocephalic; hydrocephalous.

hydrocephaly in Medicine

hydrocephalus

[hī′drō-sĕf′ə-ləs]

n.

A usually congenital condition in which an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the cerebral ventricles causes enlargement of the skull and compression of the brain, destroying much of the neural tissue.

Related formshy′dro•ce•phal′ic (-sə-făl′ĭk) null adj.

hydrocephaly in Science

hydrocephalus

[hī′drō-sĕf′ə-ləs]

A usually congenital condition in which an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the cerebral ventricles causes enlargement of the skull and compression of and injury to brain tissue. If hydrocephalus becomes progressive, a shunt is surgically placed to reduce pressure by conducting fluid away from the brain, usually to the peritoneum.

Related formshydrocephalic adjective (hī′drō-sə-făl′ĭk)