myelin
NounUS/ˈmaɪɪlɪn/3 syllables
Open English WordNet
Noun (1)
- a white fatty substance that forms a medullary sheath around the axis cylinder of some nerve fibersSynonyms: myelinemedullaType of fatSubstance of medullary sheath, myelin sheath
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onerousadjective
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Webster's Dictionary (1913)
my′e·lin, my′e·line noun
Origin: Gr. μυελός marrow.
Physiol. Chem. (a) A soft white substance constituting the medullary sheaths of nerve fibers, and composed mainly of cholesterin, lecithin, cerebrin, protein, and some fat. (b) One of a group of phosphorized principles occurring in nerve tissue, both in the brain and nerve fibers.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54