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microcephalic

[mahy-kroh-suh-fal-ik]
adjective Cephalometry, Pathology.
  1. having a head with a small braincase.
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Also mi·cro·ceph·a·lous [mahy-kroh-sef-uh-luh s] /ˌmaɪ kroʊˈsɛf ə ləs/.

Origin of microcephalic

From the New Latin word microcephalicus, dating back to 1855–60. See micro-, cephalic
Related formsmi·cro·ceph·a·ly, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for microcephaly

Historical Examples

  • Lombroso attributes a series of cases of microcephaly to profound mental impressions occurring during pregnancy.

    Degeneracy

    Eugene S. Talbot

  • Microcephaly on the contrary shows inferiority of form (smallness, receding forehead, etc.), but not malformation.

    Pedagogical Anthropology

    Maria Montessori

  • Pathological terminology includes the following nomenclature: macrocephaly, sub-macrocephaly, submicrocephaly, microcephaly.

    Pedagogical Anthropology

    Maria Montessori

  • If, on the other hand, the maximum circumference is notably smaller, we are entering upon the anomaly of microcephaly.

    Pedagogical Anthropology

    Maria Montessori

  • Some just show radiation abnormalities—giantism, microcephaly, and the like.

British Dictionary definitions for microcephaly

microcephaly

noun
  1. the condition of having an abnormally small head or cranial capacityCompare megacephaly
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Derived Formsmicrocephalic (ˌmaɪkrəʊsɪˈfælɪk), adjective, nounmicrocephalous, 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 microcephaly

microcephalic

adj.

"small-headed," 1845, from French microcéphalique, from Modern Latin microcephalus, from Greek mikros "small" (see mica) + kephale "head" (see cephalo-). Related: Microcephalism; microcephalous (1840); microcephaly (n.).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
microcephaly in Medicine

microcephaly

(mī′krō-sĕf′ə-lē)
n.
  1. Abnormal smallness of the head.nanocephaly
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Related formsmi′cro•ce•phal′ic (-sə-făl′ĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.