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hydrocephalus
noun
hy·dro·ceph·a·lus
ˌhī-drō-ˈse-fə-ləs
variants
or less commonly hydrocephaly
: an abnormal increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid within the cranial cavity (as from obstructed flow, excess production, or defective absorption) that is accompanied by expansion of the cerebral ventricles and often increased intracranial pressure, skull enlargement, and cognitive decline
Examples of hydrocephalus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
From a 6 year lifespan to a thriving teenager
Luis Heberto lives with spinal bifida, which paralyzes him from the waist down; cerebral palsy, which limits him from the waist up; and hydrocephalus, a neurological disorder that causes the accumulation of fluid within deep cavities of the brain.
—Nadia Cantú, The Arizona Republic, 12 May 2024
In situations where the tumor is interfering with the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), people may have more pressure in their heads, known as hydrocephalus.
—Julia Landwehr, Health, 12 Jan. 2024
Somers also lived with hypertension and hydrocephalus, underlying conditions that led to her death.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2023
Test results earlier in Marta’s pregnancy indicated the baby had hydrocephalus, a build-up of fluid in the brain, which Dr. Jagielska says is likely because Maria had toxoplasmosis, a common infection caused by a parasite.
—TIME, 13 Oct. 2023
As a result, some patients have been left with permanent vision loss and hydrocephalus, a condition where there is too much fluid in the brain.
—Akshay Syal, M.d., NBC News, 3 July 2023
Flood said her parents were generally active and enjoyed family gatherings and celebrations, although her father had trouble keeping his balance due to hydrocephalus, a condition caused by a build-up of fluid in the brain.
—Brian Brant, Peoplemag, 8 Aug. 2023
Generally speaking, hydrocephalus is a serious condition that can result in long-lasting harm to the brain and a number of short-term symptoms, including walking difficulties, memory problems, headaches, nausea, seizures and the aforementioned vision problems.
—Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 12 June 2023
Student Can’t Wear Sash with Mexican and U.S. Flag at High School Graduation, Judge Rules Samir was born on the autism spectrum and with a neurological disorder called hydrocephalus, according to the Review-Journal.
—Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 5 June 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hydrocephalus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near hydrocephalus
Cite this Entry
“Hydrocephalus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hydrocephalus. Accessed 12 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
hydrocephalus
noun
hy·dro·ceph·a·lus
ˌhī-drō-ˈsef-ə-ləs
variants
also hydrocephaly
: an abnormal condition in which an increased amount of cerebrospinal fluid causes an increase in the size of the ventricles of the brain and the size of the skull and the wasting away of the brain
Medical Definition
hydrocephalus
noun
hy·dro·ceph·a·lus
-ˈsef-ə-ləs, British also -ˈkef-
plural hydrocephali
-ˌlī
: an abnormal increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid within the cranial cavity (as from obstructed flow, excess production, or defective absorption) that is accompanied by expansion of the cerebral ventricles and often increased intracranial pressure, skull enlargement, and cognitive decline
More from Merriam-Webster on hydrocephalus
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hydrocephalus
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