synapse

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek σύναψις (súnapsis, “conjunction”), from συνάπτω (sunáptō, “to clasp”). Introduced by neurophysiologist Charles Scott Sherrington.

noun

1. The junction between the terminal of a neuron and either another neuron or a muscle or gland cell, over which nerve impulses pass.

verb

1. (intransitive) To form a synapse.
2. (intransitive) To undergo synapsis.