English Explanatory Dictionary

cranium

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. That part of the skull consisting of the bones enclosing the brain, but not including the bones of the face or jaw.
  2. The upper portion of the skull, including the neurocranium and facial bones, but not including the jawbone (mandible).
  3. Synonym of skull.

Pronunciation

krā'nē-əm /ˈkɹeɪ.ni.əm/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-cranium.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Wodencafe-cranium.wav

Word forms

cranium craniums crania

Etymology

From Medieval Latin crānium (“skull”), from Ancient Greek κρᾱνίον (krāníon, “skull”). By surface analysis, crani- + -um.

Synonyms

braincase neurocranium skull

Derived words

basicranium chondrocranium cranial craniate cranio- dermatocranium desmocranium ectocranium endocranium epicranium hemicrania intracranium neurocranium osteocranium paracranium postcranium splanchnocranium viscerocranium
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