synapse

Pronunciation: /ˈsɪnæps/

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the junction between two neurons (axon-to-dendrite) or between a neuron and a muscle

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek σύναψις (súnapsis, “conjunction”), from συνάπτω (sunáptō, “to clasp”). Introduced by neurophysiologist Charles Scott Sherrington.

In classic literature

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
junction
Narrower (hyponyms)
neuromuscular junction

A single word — an entire dictionary opens.

Type a word, a sentence, a book title, or a link to an English article. WordNet and the Classics answer.

Try

A library of classics · a vault of words · instant etymology & meaning

Continue reading

Nice save! Solidify it with review →