commissure

noun

com·​mis·​sure ˈkä-mə-ˌshu̇r How to pronounce commissure (audio)
1
: a point or line of union or junction especially between two anatomical parts (such as adjacent heart valves)
2
: a connecting band of nerve tissue in the brain or spinal cord
commissural
ˌkä-mə-ˈshu̇r-əl How to pronounce commissure (audio)
adjective

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "suture, seam," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin commissūra "joint, juncture, seam," from commissus (past participle of committere "to join together") + -ūra -ure — more at commit

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of commissure was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near commissure

commissive

commissure

commit

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Commissure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commissure. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

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Medical Definition

commissure

noun
com·​mis·​sure ˈkäm-ə-ˌshu̇(ə)r How to pronounce commissure (audio)
1
: a point or line of union or junction between two anatomical parts (as the lips at their angles or adjacent heart valves)
2
: a connecting band of nerve tissue in the brain or spinal cord see anterior commissure, corpus callosum, gray commissure, habenular commissure, hippocampal commissure, posterior commissure compare massa intermedia
commissural
ˌkäm-ə-ˈshu̇r-əl How to pronounce commissure (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on commissure

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about commissure

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