hydrocephalus

noun

hy·​dro·​ceph·​a·​lus ˌhī-drō-ˈse-fə-ləs 

variants or less commonly hydrocephaly

ˌhī-drō-ˈse-fə-lē 

: 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

After many tests and scans, Storm was diagnosed with hydrocephalus and a right forebrain lesion. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025

She was born with a condition known as hydrocephalus, which doctors said was caused by a listeriosis infection that her mother contracted while pregnant. —Hanna Ziady, CNN, 25 Jan. 2025

Authorities said Deonte was diagnosed with thoracic spina bifida, a condition that occurs when the spine and spinal cord don't form properly, according to the Mayo Clinic, and hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in the brain. —Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 21 Dec. 2024

The fluid accumulates due to a medical condition of infancy called benign external hydrocephalus. —Dhanika Pineda, ABC News, 25 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin hydrocephalus, from Late Latin, hydrocephalic, adjective, from Greek hydrokephalos, from hydr- + kephalē head — more at cephalic

First Known Use

1670, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

hydrocephalus

noun

hy·​dro·​ceph·​a·​lus ˌhī-drō-ˈsef-ə-ləs 

variants also hydrocephaly

-ˈsef-ə-lē 

: 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