amygdala

[ uh-mig-duh-luh ]

noun,plural a·myg·da·lae [uh-mig-duh-lee]. /əˈmɪg dəˌli/. Anatomy.
  1. an almond-shaped part, as a tonsil.

  2. a ganglion of the limbic system adjoining the temporal lobe of the brain and involved in emotions of fear and aggression.

Origin of amygdala

1
before 950; <Medieval Latin: almond, tonsil, Latin: almond <Greek amygdálē; replacing Middle English amygdal,Old English amigdal almond <Latin amygdalon<Greek amýgdalon;cf. almond

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How to use amygdala in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for amygdala

amygdala

/ (əˈmɪɡdələ) /


nounplural -lae (-ˌliː)
  1. anatomy an almond-shaped part, such as a tonsil or a lobe of the cerebellum

Origin of amygdala

1
C16: from Medieval Latin: almond

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for amygdala

amygdala

[ ə-mĭgdə-lə ]


Plural amygdalae (ə-mĭgdə-lē)
  1. An almond-shaped mass of gray matter in the front part of the temporal lobe of the cerebrum that is part of the limbic system and is involved in the processing and expression of emotions, especially anger and fear.

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