decerebrate

1 of 2

adjective

de·​cer·​e·​brate (ˌ)dē-ˈser-ə-brət  -ˌbrāt 

1

: caused by or as if by elimination of cerebral brain function : characteristic of decerebration

decerebrate rigidity

2

: having the cerebrum removed or made inactive

decerebrate lab animals

decerebrate

2 of 2

verb

de·​cer·​e·​brate (ˌ)dē-ˈser-ə-ˌbrāt 

decerebrated; decerebrating; decerebrates

transitive verb

: to remove the cerebrum from

also : to make incapable of cerebral activity

decerebration

(ˌ)dē-ˌser-ə-ˈbrā-shən 

noun

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1900, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

decerebrate

adjective

de·​cer·​e·​brate (ˈ)dē-ˈser-ə-brət  -ˌbrāt; ˌdē-sə-ˈrē-brət 

1

: having the cerebrum removed or made inactive

decerebrate rats

2

: characteristic of decerebration

decerebrate rigidity