cranium

[ krey-nee-uhm ]

noun

, plural cra·ni·ums, cra·ni·a [krey, -nee-, uh].

1. the skull of a vertebrate.
2. the part of the skull that encloses the brain.

cranium

/ ˈkreɪnɪəm /

noun

1. the skull of a vertebrate
2. the part of the skull that encloses the brain Nontechnical namebrainpan

cranium

/ krā′nē-əm /

, Plural craniums

1. The vertebrate skull, especially the part that encloses and protects the brain.

cranium

1. The part of the skull that encloses the brain .

Word History and Origins

Origin of cranium¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English craneum, from Medieval Latin crānium, from Greek krāníon “skull”; akin to kerato-, cerebrum, cornu, horn

Word History and Origins

Origin of cranium¹

C16: from Medieval Latin crānium skull, from Greek kranion

Example Sentences

These bones were found in the same locality and year as the cranium, but were identified later in 2004.

From Singularity Hub 

Another set of fossils from Morocco has been dated to 315,000 years old, although Vidal says they do not possess certain features found in Omo I and later humans, including the tall cranium and chin.

From Popular-Science

There was no way to excavate the cranium quickly without breaking it.

From Nautilus

In 1953, a Harvard psychologist thought he discovered pleasure—accidentally—within the cranium of a rat.

From Singularity Hub 

He placed his gun underneath her chin and fired it “up into the cranium.”

From The Daily Beast

Old Sanders tapped with both hands on his shining cranium and asked, Are you confident he loves her?

From Project Gutenberg

And old Sanders again tapped in the rhythm of a dirge on his parchment-bound cranium.

From Project Gutenberg

Suddenly the old man beat a tattoo on his cranium and closed his eyes, apparently deep in thought.

From Project Gutenberg

The cranium has a low, depressed arch, with a very narrow frontal region and highly developed superciliary ridges.

From Project Gutenberg

Seventh, his great thickness of cranium, which resists blows that would break the skull of an average European.

From Project Gutenberg