neuro-

1. a combining form meaning “nerve,” “nerves,” “nervous system,” used in the formation of compound words:

   neurology.

neuro-

combining_form

1. indicating a nerve or the nervous system

   neurology

   neuroblast

Word History and Origins

Origin of neuro-¹

< Greek neuro-, combining form of neûron; akin to Latin nervus

Word History and Origins

Origin of neuro-¹

from Greek neuron nerve; related to Latin nervus

Example Sentences

Modern medications—from opiates to steroids to neuro-implants—are, at best, minimally effective.

From The Daily Beast

Using their skill with visual processing, ASDs can learn by rote how to negotiate the neuro-typical world.

From The Daily Beast

Assuming the killer was a person Carmack had reason to mistrust—or to fear—he had to solve the neuro-vibe in order to gain access.

From Project Gutenberg

In each case the ideas are converted into performance, the results attained, by the exercise of neuro-muscular mechanisms.

From Project Gutenberg

It is quite worth while for one to become acquainted with this wonderful form of neuro-mental activity.

From Project Gutenberg

The most important are the Animal Functions, with their great organ-system, the neuro-muscular mechanism.

From Project Gutenberg

The faradic current is also used as a means of diagnosis for neuro-muscular conditions.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use neuro-

What does neuro- mean?

Neuro– is a combining form used like a prefix that literally means “nerve.” The form is also used figuratively to mean “nerves” or “nervous system.” It is often used in medical terms, especially in anatomy.

Neuro– comes from Greek neûron, meaning “nerve.” Neûron is a distant relative of sinew, which is of Old English origin, and nerve, which is of Latin origin. To learn more, check out the entries for both words.

What are variants of neuro-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, neuro– becomes neur–, as in neuroid. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article about neur-.

Examples of neuro-

One example of a medical term that uses neuro– is neurocyte, more commonly called a neuron, meaning “a specialized, impulse-conducting cell that is the functional unit of the nervous system.”

The neuro– part of the word means “nerve,” and the –cyte part of the word means “cell,” from Greek kýtos. Neurocyte literally translates to “nerve cell.”

What are some words that use the combining form neuro-?

• neuroblast
• neurocardiac
• neurochemistry
• neurogram
• neurohistology
• neurology (using the equivalent form of neuro– in Latin)
• neuromere
• neuropathy

What are some other forms that neuro– may be commonly confused with?

• nitro-
• non-
• nona-
• normo-

Break it down!

The combining form –logy is used to name areas of study or branches of science. With this in mind, what is neurology?