neuron

noun

neu·​ron ˈnü-ˌrän How to pronounce neuron (audio) ˈnyü- How to pronounce neuron (audio) ˈnu̇r-ˌän How to pronounce neuron (audio)
ˈnyu̇r-
: a grayish or reddish granular cell that is the fundamental functional unit of nervous tissue transmitting and receiving nerve impulses and having cytoplasmic processes which are highly differentiated frequently as multiple dendrites or usually as solitary axons which conduct impulses to and away from the cell body : nerve cell sense 1
neuronal
ˈnu̇r-ə-nᵊl How to pronounce neuron (audio)
ˈnyu̇r-;
  nu̇-ˈrō-nᵊl How to pronounce neuron (audio)
nyu̇-
adjective
or less commonly neuronic
nu̇-ˈrä-nik How to pronounce neuron (audio)
nyu̇-

Illustration of neuron

Illustration of neuron
  • 1 cell body
  • 2 dendrite
  • 3 axon
  • 4 nerve ending

Examples of neuron in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Our most culturally significant movers and shakers are only ever a single neuron pulling from and contributing to the collective brain. — Michael Muthukrishna, Fortune, 23 July 2026 My team also identified the presence of specialized and fast-conducting brain cells called von Economo neurons, which are typically located in the areas of the brain involved in emotional, social and internal processing in people. — Kelly Lambert, The Conversation, 23 July 2026 When scientists temporarily disabled mole-rats’ olfactory sensory neurons with chemicals, the aggression towards strangers disappeared. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2026 During this time, the brain starts to shrink, and the misfolded proteins that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s begin to build up — sticky amyloid beta plaques in the brain and tau tangles in neurons. — Richard Sima, Washington Post, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for neuron

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Neuron, borrowed from Greek neûron "sinew, tendon, nerve" — more at nerve entry 1

Note: Term introduced by the German anatomist Heinrich Wilhelm Waldeyer (Heinrich Wilhelm Gottfried von Waldeyer-Hartz, 1836-1921) in "Ueber einige neuere Forschungen im Gebiete der Anatomie der Centralnervensystems," Berliner klinische Wochenschrift, 28. Jahrgang, no. 28, July 13, 1891, p. 691: "Somit besteht ein Nervenelement (eine 'Nerveneinheit' oder 'Neuron', wie ich es zu nennen vorschlagen möchte), den genannten Forschungsergebnissen … zufolge, aus nachstehenden Stücken: a) einer Nervenzelle, b) dem Nervenfortsatze, c) dessen Collateralen und d) dem Endbäumchen." — "Therefore, in accordance with the cited research results, a nerve element (a 'nerve unit' or 'neuron,' as I would like to suggest as a name), consists of the following parts: a) a nerve cell, b) the nerve process [= axon], c) its collaterals and d) the end tree [= axon terminals]." Waldeyer apparently intended -on to be taken as a suffix, indicating a unit, rather than the Greek neuter singular inflectional ending, as he utilized Neuronen as the plural in the same article. Cf. French neurone and the English variant neurone.

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of neuron was in 1891

Phrases Containing neuron

Rhymes for neuron

See All Rhymes for neuron

Browse Nearby Words

neuromuscular
neuron
neurone
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Neuron.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neuron. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

neuron

noun
neu·​ron ˈn(y)ü-ˌrän How to pronounce neuron (audio) ˈn(y)u̇(ə)r- ˌän How to pronounce neuron (audio)
: a grayish or reddish cell that is the basic working unit of the nervous system and has an axon and dendrites that carry nerve impulses

Medical Definition

neuron

noun
neu·​ron ˈn(y)ü-ˌrän How to pronounce neuron (audio) ˈn(y)u̇(ə)r-ˌän How to pronounce neuron (audio)
variants also neurone
-ˌrōn, -ˌōn How to pronounce neuron (audio)
: one of the cells that constitute nervous tissue, that have the property of transmitting and receiving nerve impulses, and that are composed of somewhat reddish or grayish protoplasm with a large nucleus containing a conspicuous nucleolus, irregular cytoplasmic granules, and cytoplasmic processes which are highly differentiated frequently as multiple dendrites or usually as solitary axons and which conduct impulses toward and away from the cell body : nerve cell sense 1
neuronal
ˈn(y)u̇r-ən-ᵊl How to pronounce neuron (audio) n(y)u̇-ˈrōn-ᵊl How to pronounce neuron (audio)
adjective
also neuronic
n(y)u̇-ˈrän-ik How to pronounce neuron (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on neuron

Nglish: Translation of neuron for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about neuron

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