cephalic

¹

[ suh-fal-ik ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the head.
2. situated or directed toward the head.

-cephalic

²

1. variant of -cephalous:

   brachycephalic.

cephalic

¹

/ sɪˈfælɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to the head
2. situated in, on, or near the head

-cephalic

²

combining form

1. indicating skull or head; -headed

   brachycephalic

cephalic

/ sə-făl′ĭk /

1. Located on or near the head.

Derived Forms

• -cephaly, combining_form:in_noun:countable

Other Words From

• ce·phali·cal·ly adverb
• postce·phalic adjective
• proce·phalic adjective
• unce·phalic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cephalic¹

1590–1600; < Latin cephalicus < Greek kephalikós of the head. See cephal-, -ic

Origin of cephalic²

< Greek -kephal ( os ) -cephalous + -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of cephalic¹

from Greek -kephalos

Example Sentences

But the court heard that despite a 31-week scan recording the baby as completely breech, three subsequent midwife examinations recorded it as being in a head down, cephalic position.

From BBC

The circling motion was more relaxed: the rays were touching each other, and they weren't unfurling their cephalic fins—the horn-like appendages in front of their face—to eat.

From National Geographic

This has to be done quickly, what I’m after now, he realized; he hurried down the hall and all at once his detection gear registered the presence of cephalic activity.

From Literature

External cephalic version, in my experience, is more painful than actually having a baby with no anesthesia.

From New York Times

They can grow up to 4 feet and are named for the distinctive cephalic lobes that resemble horns.

From Washington Times