efferent

[ ef-er-uh nt ]
/ ˈɛf ər ənt /
Anatomy, Physiology
SEE SYNONYMS FOR efferent ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

conveying or conducting away from an organ or part (opposed to afferent).

noun

an efferent part, as a nerve or blood vessel.

Origin of efferent

1830–40; < Latin efferent- (stem of efferēns carrying off, present participle of efferre), equivalent to ef- ef- + ferent- carrying ( fer- carry + -ent- -ent)

OTHER WORDS FROM efferent

ef·fer·ence, noun ef·fer·ent·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH efferent

afferent efferent

Words nearby efferent

effeminacy, effeminate, effemination, effeminize, effendi, efferent, efferent duct, efferent glomerular arteriole, efferent nerve, efferent vessel, effervesce

Words related to efferent

deviating, divergent, eccentric, outward, radial, spiral, diffusive

Example sentences from the Web for efferent

British Dictionary definitions for efferent

efferent
/ (ˈɛfərənt) /

adjective

carrying or conducting outwards from a part or an organ of the body, esp from the brain or spinal cord Compare afferent

Derived forms of efferent

efference, noun efferently, adverb

Word Origin for efferent

C19: from Latin efferre to bear off, from ferre to bear

Medical definitions for efferent

efferent
[ ĕf′ər-ənt ]

adj.

Directed away from a central organ or section.

n.

An efferent organ or body part, such as a blood vessel.

Scientific definitions for efferent

efferent
[ ĕf′ər-ənt ]

Carrying motor impulses away from a central organ or part, as a nerve that conducts impulses from the central nervous system to the periphery of the body. Compare afferent.