brachycephalic

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌbræki səˈfælɪk/ UK /ˌbræki səˈfælɪk/ See IPA manual

Freq #306992

Meanings

1

adj
having a skull that is relatively short from front to back and broad from side to side

The specimen was classified as brachycephalic because of its broad, rounded skull.
2

adj
describing an animal breed with a short, broad skull and flattened muzzle

Brachycephalic dogs can be vulnerable to breathing difficulties in hot weather.
3

noun
a brachycephalic person or animal

The researcher grouped the skull as a brachycephalic.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · having a skull that is... broad-headedshort-headed

2 adj · describing an animal breed... flat-facedshort-muzzled

3 noun · a brachycephalic person or... brachycephal

Opposites

dolichocephaliclong-headed

Word family

Forms brachycephaly

Derived forms brachycephalybrachycephalous

Related forms cephalic skullcephalic index

Etymology

From New Latin brachycephalus, built from Greek brachys ("short") and kephale ("head") + English -ic. The anatomical term was introduced in the nineteenth century for a high ratio of skull width to length.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# brachycephalic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌbræki səˈfælɪk/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌbræki səˈfælɪk/
**Frequency rank:** 306992

## Meanings
1. having a skull that is relatively short from front to back and broad from side to side
2. describing an animal breed with a short, broad skull and flattened muzzle
3. a brachycephalic person or animal

## Examples
- The specimen was classified as brachycephalic because of its broad, rounded skull.
- Brachycephalic dogs can be vulnerable to breathing difficulties in hot weather.
- The researcher grouped the skull as a brachycephalic.

## Synonyms
- broad-headed
- short-headed

## Antonyms
- dolichocephalic
- long-headed

## Derived Forms
- brachycephaly
- brachycephalous

## Related Forms
- cephalic
- skull
- cephalic index

## Etymology
From New Latin brachycephalus, built from Greek brachys ("short") and kephale ("head") + English -ic. The anatomical term was introduced in the nineteenth century for a high ratio of skull width to length.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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