hippocampus

C2 Topic:General Vocabulary

US /ˌhɪpoʊˈkæmpəs/ UK /ˌhɪpəˈkæmpəs/ See IPA manual

Freq #39618

Meanings

1

noun
a curved structure deep in each temporal lobe of the brain that is central to memory, learning, and spatial navigation

Damage to the hippocampus can prevent the formation of new long-term memories.
2

noun
a seahorse, especially a member of the zoological genus Hippocampus

The male Hippocampus carries developing eggs in a brood pouch.
3

noun
a mythological sea creature with the foreparts of a horse and the tail of a fish

A carved hippocampus pulled the sea god's chariot across the panel.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 noun · a seahorse, especially a... seahorse

3 noun · a mythological sea creature... hippocampsea horse

Word family

Derived forms hippocampalhippocampichippocampectomy

Related forms limbic systemmemorytemporal lobeHippocampus minorseahorse

Etymology

From Late Latin hippocampus and Greek hippokampos, 'sea horse,' formed from hippos, 'horse,' + kampos, 'sea monster.' The zoological name denotes the seahorse. Anatomists later named the brain structure for its curved resemblance to that animal; hippocampus minor was a historical name for the calcar avis.

Topics

General Vocabulary

External links

# hippocampus

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌhɪpoʊˈkæmpəs/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌhɪpəˈkæmpəs/
**Frequency rank:** 39618

## Meanings
1. a curved structure deep in each temporal lobe of the brain that is central to memory, learning, and spatial navigation
2. a seahorse, especially a member of the zoological genus Hippocampus
3. a mythological sea creature with the foreparts of a horse and the tail of a fish

## Examples
- Damage to the hippocampus can prevent the formation of new long-term memories.
- The male Hippocampus carries developing eggs in a brood pouch.
- A carved hippocampus pulled the sea god's chariot across the panel.

## Synonyms
- seahorse
- hippocamp

## Derived Forms
- hippocampal
- hippocampic
- hippocampectomy

## Related Forms
- limbic system
- memory
- temporal lobe
- Hippocampus minor
- seahorse

## Etymology
From Late Latin hippocampus and Greek hippokampos, 'sea horse,' formed from hippos, 'horse,' + kampos, 'sea monster.' The zoological name denotes the seahorse. Anatomists later named the brain structure for its curved resemblance to that animal; hippocampus minor was a historical name for the calcar avis.

## Topics
- General Vocabulary

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