What does dendrite mean?
A dendrite is a branching extension of a nerve cell that receives signals from other neurons and carries them toward the cell body. Named from the Greek word for tree, it reflects the strikingly tree-like shape these structures take under a microscope. In neuroscience, dendrites are essential to how the brain processes information: they form vast numbers of synaptic connections, and their growth and reshaping underlie learning and memory. The word has a second, older sense in mineralogy, where a dendrite denotes a branching, plant-like crystalline pattern found in certain rocks and minerals, such as the fern-like markings in moss agate. Used almost exclusively in scientific and technical writing, the term carries no emotional connotation but conveys precision. Its adjective form is 'dendritic', as in dendritic cells of the immune system, which were named for their similarly branched appearance.
A short branched extension of a nerve cell that receives impulses from other cells and conducts them toward the cell body.
"Learning strengthens the synaptic connections that form along a neuron's dendrites."
This is the dominant modern sense, especially in neuroscience and popular science writing.
A natural or artificial structure having a branching, tree-like form, especially a crystalline mineral pattern.
"Frost formed delicate dendrites on the windowpane overnight."
Regular plural; by far the more common form in scientific literature, since neurons typically have many dendrites.
"Healthy neurons sprout new dendrites in response to stimulation."
Dendrites are literally named after trees — Greek 'dendron' — because under a microscope a neuron looks like a branching tree receiving signals at every twig.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dendrite
Dendrite comes from the Greek 'dendritēs', meaning 'pertaining to a tree', derived from 'dendron' ('tree'), with English adoption dating to the mid-18th century in mineralogy and later extended to anatomy. It shares this root with scientific coinages such as rhododendron, philodendron, dendrology (the study of trees), and dendrochronology (tree-ring dating). The related adjective 'dendritic' follows the same Greek derivation.
Related word forms
How dendrite is actually used
Predominantly used in scientific and technical registers — neuroscience for the cellular sense, mineralogy and materials science for the crystalline sense. The plural 'dendrites' is standard; there is no informal usage of note.
Easily confused with dendrite
An axon is the neuron's long fiber that sends signals away from the cell body, whereas a dendrite receives incoming signals.