cranium

/ˈkreɪniəm/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkreɪniəm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkrā-nē-əm/ (ame, mw)

cranium — noun

  • craniumsingular
  • craniumsplural

1. the hard, curved bone structure that forms the upper part of the head and surrou

1.名詞C1
釋義

the hard, curved bone structure that forms the upper part of the head and surrounds the brain, protecting it from injury

例句

Doctors found a crack in the baby's cranium after a fall from the changing table.

cranium + possessive (baby's cranium)

Archaeologists carefully measured the cranium of the ancient skeleton to estimate the person's age at death.

cranium + of + skeletal remains

同義詞
  • skull

    everyday term for the entire bony head structure, including the jaw; much more common than 'cranium'

  • braincase

    more technical anatomical term; focuses on the part that encloses the brain

  • head

    vague, informal term for the whole head area, not just the bone

文法句型

the cranium

possessive + cranium

用法筆記

In everyday conversation, native speakers almost always use 'skull' instead of 'cranium'. This term is mainly found in medical, scientific, or formal writing.

常見錯誤

❌He suffered a fractured cranium in the crash.
✅He suffered a fractured skull in the crash.
💡'cranium' sounds overly clinical in everyday speech; use 'skull' for general contexts.
❌The cranium is the whole head including the jaw.
✅The cranium is the upper part of the skull that protects the brain, not including the jaw.
💡'cranium' refers specifically to the brain-case, not the entire skull including the mandible.