decerebrate

[ verb dee-ser-uh-breyt; noun dee-ser-uh-breyt, -brit ]
/ verb diˈsɛr əˌbreɪt; noun diˈsɛr əˌbreɪt, -brɪt /

verb (used with object), de·cer·e·brat·ed, de·cer·e·brat·ing.

Surgery. to remove the cerebrum.

noun

a decerebrated animal.
a person who, because of brain injury, exhibits behavior characteristic of a decerebrated animal.

Origin of decerebrate

First recorded in 1895–1900; de- + cerebr- + -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM decerebrate

de·cer·e·bra·tion, noun

Example sentences from the Web for decerebrate

British Dictionary definitions for decerebrate

decerebrate

verb (diːˈsɛrɪˌbreɪt)

(tr) to remove the brain or a large section of the brain or to cut the spinal cord at the level of the brain stem of (a person or animal)

noun (diːˈsɛrɪbrɪt)

a decerebrated individual

Derived forms of decerebrate

decerebration, noun

Word Origin for decerebrate

C19: from de- + cerebro- + -ate 1

Medical definitions for decerebrate

decerebrate
[ dē-sĕrə-brāt′, -brĭt ]

adj.

Of, relating to, or characteristic of an individual who has suffered a brain injury that results in neurological function comparable to that resulting from decerebration of an animal.

v.

To eliminate cerebral brain function in an animal by decerebration.