gray matter

noun

1

: neural tissue especially of the brain and spinal cord that contains nerve-cell bodies as well as nerve fibers and has a brownish-gray color

2

: brains, intellect

Synonyms

• brain(s)
• brainpower
• headpiece
• intellect
• intellectuality
• intelligence
• mentality
• reason
• sense
• smarts

Examples of gray matter in a Sentence

she's got the gray matter to figure that equation out

Recent Examples on the Web

Research shows that regular mindfulness meditation not only improves well-being but also increases gray matter density in brain areas associated with self-awareness and empathy. —Nik Ershov, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

Some of the changes, including the reduction in gray matter, remained two years postpartum, while others, such as the white matter increase, were temporary. —Melissa Willets, Parents, 25 Sep. 2024

And compared with the control group, change in the woman’s gray matter volume was nearly three times higher. —Kristen Rogers, CNN, 16 Sep. 2024

Nevertheless, its spread is troubling because the virus can lead to a rare and debilitating neurological condition called acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM. AFM attacks motor neurons in the spinal cord’s gray matter, which controls movement. —Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

gray matter

noun

1

: nerve tissue especially of the brain and spinal cord that has a brownish gray color

2

: intelligence sense 1

Medical Definition

gray matter

noun

: neural tissue especially of the brain and spinal cord that contains cell bodies as well as nerve fibers, has a brownish gray color, and forms most of the cortex and nuclei of the brain, the columns of the spinal cord, and the bodies of ganglia

called also gray substance