decerebrate

[ verb dee-ser-uh-breyt; noun dee-ser-uh-breyt, -brit ]

verb (used with object),de·cer·e·brat·ed, de·cer·e·brat·ing.
  1. Surgery. to remove the cerebrum.

noun
  1. a decerebrated animal.

  2. a person who, because of brain injury, exhibits behavior characteristic of a decerebrated animal.

Origin of decerebrate

1
First recorded in 1895–1900; de- + cerebr- + -ate1

Other words from decerebrate

  • de·cer·e·bra·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for decerebrate

decerebrate

verb(diːˈsɛrɪˌbreɪt)
  1. (tr) to remove the brain or a large section of the brain or to cut the spinal cord at the level of the brain stem of (a person or animal)

noun(diːˈsɛrɪbrɪt)
  1. a decerebrated individual

Origin of decerebrate

1
C19: from de- + cerebro- + -ate 1

Derived forms of decerebrate

  • decerebration, noun

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