cranium
[ krey-nee-uh m ]
/ ˈkreɪ ni əm /
noun, plural cra·ni·ums, cra·ni·a [krey-nee-uh] /ˈkreɪ ni ə/.
the skull of a vertebrate.
the part of the skull that encloses the brain.
Also called
braincase.
Origin of cranium
1375–1425; late Middle English
craneum < Medieval Latin
crānium < Greek
krāníon skull; akin to
ceratokoi·ə ,
cerebrum,
cornu,
horn
Words nearby cranium
craniostenosis,
craniosynostosis,
craniotabes,
craniotomy,
craniotympanic,
cranium,
crank,
crank in,
crank letter,
crank out,
crank up
Example sentences from the Web for cranium
British Dictionary definitions for cranium
cranium
/ (ˈkreɪnɪəm) /
noun plural -niums or -nia (-nɪə)
the skull of a vertebrate
the part of the skull that encloses the brain
Nontechnical name: brainpan
Word Origin for cranium
C16: from Medieval Latin
crānium skull, from Greek
kranion
Medical definitions for cranium
cranium
[ krā′nē-əm ]
n. pl. cra•ni•ums
The bony case enclosing the brain, excluding the bones of the face; braincase.
Scientific definitions for cranium
cranium
[ krā′nē-əm ]
Plural craniums crania
The vertebrate skull, especially the part that encloses and protects the brain.