synapse
noun · verb
Simple meaning
The junction between two neurons or between a neuron and a muscle.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
sihapsSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈsɪæps
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
The junction between two neurons (axon-to-dendrite) or between a neuron and a muscle
“Nerve impulses cross a synapse through the action of neurotransmitters.”
The junction between the terminal of a neuron and either another neuron or a muscle or gland cell, over which nerve impulses pass.
verb
intransitive
To undergo synapsis.
intransitive
To form a synapse.
Word at a Glance
- Frequency
- Uncommon
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: The junction between two neurons (axon-to-dendrite) or between a neuron and a muscle
Used this way, synapse is a common word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
“Nerve impulses cross a synapse through the action of neurotransmitters.”
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Common
- Connotation
- Matter-of-fact
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use synapse
- “Nerve impulses cross a synapse through the action of neurotransmitters.”noun
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.