Lexic.us

Definition of Nucleus

1. Noun. A part of the cell containing DNA and RNA and responsible for growth and reproduction.

2. Noun. The positively charged dense center of an atom.

3. Noun. A small group of indispensable persons or things. "Five periodicals make up the core of their publishing program"

4. Noun. (astronomy) the center of the head of a comet; consists of small solid particles of ice and frozen gas that vaporizes on approaching the sun to form the coma and tail.

5. Noun. Any histologically identifiable mass of neural cell bodies in the brain or spinal cord.

6. Noun. The central structure of the lens that is surrounded by the cortex.

Definition of Nucleus

1. n. A kernel; hence, a central mass or point about which matter is gathered, or to which accretion is made; the central or material portion; -- used both literally and figuratively.

Definition of Nucleus

1. Noun. The core, central part (of something), round which others are assembled. ¹

2. Noun. An initial part or version that will receive additions. ¹

3. Noun. (context: chemistry physics) The massive, positively charged central part of an atom, made up of protons and neutrons. ¹

4. Noun. (cytology) A large organelle found in cells which contains genetic material. ¹

5. Noun. (neuroanatomy) A ganglion, cluster of many neuronal bodies where synapsing occurs. ¹

6. Noun. (linguistics) The central part of a syllable, most commonly a vowel. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Nucleus

1. an essential part of a cell [n -CLEI or -CLEUSES]

Medical Definition of Nucleus

1. The major organelle of eukaryotic cells, in which the chromosomes are separated from the cytoplasm by the nuclear envelope. This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology (11 Mar 2008)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Nucleus

nucleotidase nucleotidases nucleotide nucleotide binding fold nucleotide deaminases nucleotide deletion nucleotide mapping nucleotide pair nucleotide phosphotransferase nucleotide pyrophosphate transferase

nucleotides nucleotidic nucleotidyltransferase nucleotidyltransferases nucleotoxin nucleus (current term) nucleus accumbens nucleus accumbens septi nucleus acusticus nucleus alae cinereae

nucleus ambiguus nucleus amygdalae nucleus anterodorsalis nucleus anteromedialis nucleus anteroventralis nucleus arcuatus nucleus arcuatus thalami nucleus basalis of Ganser nucleus caudatus nucleus centralis lateralis thalami

Literary usage of Nucleus

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Anatomy, Descriptive and Surgical by Henry Gray (1901)
"THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. head of the caudate nucleus of the corpus striatum. Its apex reaches the posterior surface of the genu of the corpus callosum. ..."

2. Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Standard Work of Reference in Art, Literature (1907)
"X 300. a. nucleus; *, contractile v«c»Jc c, amylon nucleus. 15. ... ordinary individual with widely separated test, a, nucleus; b, contractile vacuole; ..."

3. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease by Philadelphia Neurological Society, American Neurological Association, Chicago Neurological Society, New York Neurological Association (1906)
"Their observations show that any given area of the cortex is in relation with a homolateral nucleus of nuclei. They have not found satisfactory evidence ..."

4. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease by American Neurological Association, Philadelphia Neurological Society, Chicago Neurological Society, New York Neurological Association, Boston Society of Psychiatry and Neurology (1905)
"Their observations show that any given area of the cortex is in relation with a homolateral nucleus of nuclei. They have not found satisfactory evidence ..."

5. Botanical Gazette by University of Chicago, JSTOR (Organization) (1903)
"The parasite is at first seen resting in the cytoplasm of the host cell and occupying it conjointly with the host nucleus of that cell. ..."

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