Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Hippocampus

Hipˊpo-cam′pus

,
Noun.
[L., the sea horse, Gr. [GREEK] a hippocampus (in senses 1 and 2);
ἵπποσ
horse + [GREEK] to bend.]
1.
(Class. Myth.)
A fabulous monster, with the head and fore quarters of a horse joined to the tail of a dolphin or other fish (
Hippocampus brevirostris
), – seen in Pompeian paintings, attached to the chariot of Neptune.
Fairholt.
2.
(Zool.)
A genus of lophobranch fishes of several species in which the head and neck have some resemblance to those of a horse; – called also
sea horse
.
☞ They swim slowly, in an erect position, and often cling to seaweeds by means of the incurved prehensile tail. The male has a ventral pouch, in which it carries the eggs till hatched.
3.
(Zool.)
A name applied to either of two ridges of white matter in each lateral ventricle of the brain. The larger is called hippocampus major or simply hippocampus. The smaller, hippocampus minor, is called also
ergot
and
calcar
.

Definition 2024


Hippocampus

Hippocampus

See also: hippocampus

Translingual

Wikispecies

Proper noun

Hippocampus m

  1. A taxonomic genus within the family Syngnathidae – the seahorses.

Translations

hippocampus

hippocampus

See also: Hippocampus

English

Hippocampus animation (anatomy)

Noun

hippocampus (plural hippocampi)

  1. A mythological creature with the front head and forelimbs of a horse and the rear of a dolphin; a hippocamp.
  2. (anatomy) A part of the brain located inside the temporal lobe, consisting mainly of grey matter. It is a component of the limbic system and plays a role in memory and emotion. So named because of its resemblance to the seahorse.

Abbreviations

  • (neuroanatomy): HIPP

Derived terms

Translations


Latin

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἵππος (horse) and κάμπος (sea monster).

Pronunciation

  • (Classical) IPA(key): /hip.poˈkam.pus/, [hɪp.pɔˈkam.pʊs]

Noun

hippocampus m (genitive hippocampī); second declension

  1. a seahorse

Inflection

Second declension.

Case Singular Plural
nominative hippocampus hippocampī
genitive hippocampī hippocampōrum
dative hippocampō hippocampīs
accusative hippocampum hippocampōs
ablative hippocampō hippocampīs
vocative hippocampe hippocampī

References