synapse

What is another word for synapse? Here is its meaning, with related words and examples.

Noun — A synapse is the junction between the end of a nerve cell and another nerve cell, or a muscle or gland cell, across which nerve signals pass.

We haven't recorded synonyms for synapse yet. You can still read its full definition, where it comes from, or words that rhyme with it.

How to use synapse

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

electrical synapse chemical synapse form a synapse fire across a synapse synapse between neurons

This is a technical term from biology and medicine, though it also appears in general science writing.

Etymology

Synapse is a learned borrowing from the Ancient Greek word for a conjunction or joining, itself from a verb meaning to clasp together. The English term was introduced by the neurophysiologist Charles Scott Sherrington.

Full origin of synapse →

Frequently asked questions

What is a synapse in simple terms?

It is the tiny gap and junction where one nerve cell passes its signal on to another nerve cell, or to a muscle or gland cell.

Who coined the word synapse?

It was introduced by the neurophysiologist Charles Scott Sherrington, building on an Ancient Greek word meaning a joining or clasping together.

Is a synapse a physical gap or a connection?

It is the point of contact itself, the junction across which a nerve impulse travels from one cell to the next.

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of synapse