neural
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of neural
Explanation
Something described as neural has to do with your body's nervous system, particularly your nerves. When you stub your toe, a neural signal is sent to your brain to tell you how much it hurts. The word neural has a Greek root, neuron, or "nerve." This scientific term is sometimes used interchangeably with neurological for anything connected with the entire nervous system. Neural pathways describe the route messages take through your nerves and spinal cord to your brain, and a neural disorder is an ailment that affects that part of your body.
Vocabulary lists containing neural
Body Parts: Neur ("Nerve")
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"Magic and the Brain," Vocabulary from the magazine article
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"Magic and the Brain" by Susana Martinez-Conde and Stephen L. Macknik
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The scientists recorded neural activity while using light to stimulate specific neurons in the hypothalamus, allowing them to observe how different parts of the system responded.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026
Qualcomm recently announced a new Snapdragon neural processing unit, or NPU, for smartphones.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026
According to Psychology Today, “the same neural pathways responsible for generating innovative connections for humor may also create the intense introspection characteristic of depression.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
They have also been able to reveal neural circuits governing specific memories, feelings and behaviors relevant for neurological and psychiatric disorders.
From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026
And they began to understand the neural basis of the activity.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
