chemoreception

noun

che·​mo·​re·​cep·​tion ˌkē-mō-ri-ˈsep-shən How to pronounce chemoreception (audio)
: the physiological reception of chemical stimuli
chemoreceptive adjective

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Chemoreception (later Chemorezeption), from chemo- chemo- + Reception reception

Note: The term was introduced by the German physiologist Albrecht Bethe (1872-1954) in "Die Nervensytem von Carcinus Maenas. Ein anatomisch-physiologischer Versuch. I. Theil. I. Mittheilung," Archiv für mikroskopische Anatomie und Entwicklungsgeschichte, 50. Band (1897), p. 521.

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chemoreception was in 1901

Dictionary Entries Near chemoreception

Cite this Entry

“Chemoreception.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chemoreception. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

chemoreception

noun
che·​mo·​re·​cep·​tion -ri-ˈsep-shən How to pronounce chemoreception (audio)
: the physiological reception of chemical stimuli
chemoreceptive adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on chemoreception

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!