dendrites

IPA/ˈden.draɪt/
IPA/ˈden.draɪt/

dendrites — noun

  • dendritessingular
  • dendritesesplural

1. The short branching structures on a neuron that collect incoming chemical messag

1.nounB2
Definition

The short branching structures on a neuron that collect incoming chemical messages from nearby cells and turn them into electrical pulses sent to the central part of the cell.

Example

During biology class, Mira examined the dendrites of a neuron under a laboratory microscope.

The dendrites of a nerve cell receive incoming signals from other connected neurons.

dendrites + receive + signals (typical verb-object pattern)

Common collocations
  • dendrites receive / pick up signals
  • dendrites carry / transmit impulses
  • branching / branched dendrites
  • dendrites of a neuron / nerve cell
Synonyms
  • nerve fiber

    a broader term that includes both dendrites and axons; less precise

  • neurite

    a technical umbrella term for any projection from a nerve cell body; used mainly in research contexts

Antonyms
  • axon

    the long fiber that carries signals away from the cell body, opposite direction of signal flow

Grammar Patterns

dendrites + verb (plural agreement)

dendrite(s) + of + [neuron/cell]

Usage Note

In biology writing, 'dendrites' is almost always treated as a plural noun. The singular 'dendrite' refers to one individual branch. Subject is usually a nerve cell, neuron, or the dendrites themselves.

Common Mistakes

❗ 'The dendrite of a neuron carry signals.' ✅ 'The dendrites of a neuron carry signals.' — 'dendrites' is plural and takes a plural verb; the singular 'dendrite' takes a singular verb.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Dendrites' are the short, branching extensions of a neuron that receive incoming signals. 'Nerve fibers' is a broader category that includes both dendrites and axons, so it is less specific. 'Neurites' is a technical umbrella term used in neuroscience research for any projection from a nerve cell body, covering both dendrites and axons. 'Axons' are the opposite type of nerve fiber—long, single projections that carry signals away from the cell body. For everyday biology study, 'dendrites' is the exact term when discussing signal reception, while 'axon' is its counterpart for signal transmission. For example: A neuron's dendrites collect messages from nearby cells, and its axon sends the neuron's own message onward.

dendrites ↗nerve fibersneuritesaxons ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • branching pattern of dendrites

Prepositions

Etymology

Greekscientific LatinEnglish

The word comes from Greek 'déndron' meaning 'tree', combined with the scientific suffix '-ite'. It was adopted into English in the late 1800s by neurologists who saw that the branching shape of these nerve cell parts looks like a tree's branches.

First known use

1728

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1