encephalon
[en-
sef
-
uh
-lon, -l
uh
n]
/ɛnˈsɛf əˌlɒn, -lən/
noun
,
plural
encephala
[en-
sef
-
uh
-l
uh
]
/ɛnˈsɛf ə lə/
(
Show IPA
)
1.
Anatomy.
the brain.
Origin
1735-45;
<
Neo-Latin,
alteration (
-on
for
-os
) of
Greek
enképhalos
(adj.) within the head, as masculine noun, brain; see
en-
2
,
-cephalous
British Dictionary definitions for
encephalon
encephalon
/
ɛnˈsɛfəˌlɒn
/
noun
(
pl
)
-la
(
-lə
)
1.
a technical name for
brain
Derived Forms
encephalous,
adjective
Word Origin
C18: from New Latin, from Greek
enkephalos
brain (literally: that which is in the head), from
en-
² +
kephalē
head
encephalon
in Medicine
encephalon
en·ceph·a·lon (ěn-sěf'ə-lŏn')
n.
pl.
en·ceph·a·la
(-lə)
See
brain
.
en·ceph'a·lous
adj.