adj
Uncommon
neural
NYOOR-ruhl
Neural (adj) means relating to nerves or the nervous system. Example: “The drug affects neural activity in the brain.”
adj
1
Relating to nerves or the nervous system.
"The drug affects neural activity in the brain."
"Doctors monitored his neural response after the injury."
"Damage to the neural pathways in her spine made walking difficult."
2
Designed to mimic how neurons in the brain are connected, as in computing.
"The app uses a neural network to recognize faces."
How to use neural
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do with nerves or the nervous system, or with computer systems modeled on the brain.
Common pairings
neural network
neural pathway
neural activity
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Etymology
From Ancient Greek neuron ("sinew, nerve") plus the adjective ending -al — the same root behind "nerve."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for neural
rural
mural
plural
natural
cultural
epidural
subdural
guttural
unnatural
inaugural
structural
procedural
See all rhymes for neural →
Frequently asked questions
What does “neural” mean?
The word “neural” means relating to nerves or the nervous system. In plain terms, to do with nerves or the nervous system, or with computer systems modeled on the brain.
How do you pronounce “neural”?
“Neural” is pronounced NYOOR-ruhl (/ˈnʊɹəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “neural” in a sentence?
Here is “neural” used in a sentence: “The drug affects neural activity in the brain.”
What part of speech is “neural”?
“Neural” is an adjective.
Where does the word “neural” come from?
The word “neural” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek neuron ("sinew, nerve") plus the adjective ending -al — the same root behind "nerve.".
Is “neural” a common word?
“Neural” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “neural” have?
“Neural” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to nerves or the nervous system.
What is the difference between neural and neurological?
Neural is a broad adjective meaning relating to nerves or the nervous system, and is also used in computing to describe systems designed to mimic how neurons in the brain connect. Neurological more specifically refers to the medical study or treatment of the nervous system and its disorders.
What does neural mean in the context of computing?
In computing, neural describes systems, such as neural networks, that are designed to mimic how neurons in the brain are connected. This usage is distinct from the biological sense, which refers to actual nerves or the nervous system.
What is the difference between neural and neuronal?
Neural is the more general term relating to nerves or the nervous system as a whole, while neuronal specifically describes something pertaining to individual neurons, the nerve cells themselves. Neural is used more broadly, including in non-biological contexts like computing.
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