Meaning & use

synapse

noun·Academic

The junction between two nerve cells where electrical or chemical signals pass from one to the other.

See it in a sentence

Signals cross the synapse between neurons through the release of chemical messengers.

Repeated practice strengthens the synapses involved in a particular skill.

A note on using this word

Synapse describes the gap and the process of signal transfer itself, not the nerve cell; it is a core term in neuroscience.

Words with a similar meaning

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