sulcus

noun

sul·​cus ˈsəl-kəs How to pronounce sulcus (audio)
plural sulci ˈsəl-ˌkī How to pronounce sulcus (audio)
-ˌkē,
-ˌsī How to pronounce sulcus (audio)
: furrow, groove
especially : a shallow furrow on the surface of the brain separating adjacent convolutions

Examples of sulcus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Volunteers then used the floss picks to work the dye into their gums at the gingival sulcus. New Atlas, 9 Aug. 2025 Interestingly, the brain also showed activity in areas related to understanding others and social cognition—such as the posterior superior temporal sulcus and the temporal regions—which might explain why good friendships often involve such a high level of empathy and understanding. Mark Travers, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024 Similarly, the region responsible for primary motor sensor, the central sulcus, also showed increased activity that lingered. Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 8 Feb. 2022 In those young and older, the under-eye hollows and pre-jowl sulcus — the indents on either side of the chin — tend to suffer a similar fate. Jolene Edgar, refinery29.com, 6 Oct. 2021 The part of the sensory cortex that receives input from the hand hasn't been mapped exhaustively via electrodes, in part because the regions dealing with the fingertips are tucked into a groove in the brain called the central sulcus. Chad Bouton, IEEE Spectrum, 26 Jan. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Latin; akin to Old English sulh plow, Greek holkos furrow, helkein to pull

First Known Use

1662, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sulcus was in 1662

Cite this Entry

“Sulcus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sulcus. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

Medical Definition

sulcus

noun
sul·​cus ˈsəl-kəs How to pronounce sulcus (audio)
plural sulci -ˌkī How to pronounce sulcus (audio) -ˌsī How to pronounce sulcus (audio)
: furrow, groove
especially : a shallow furrow on the surface of the brain separating adjacent convolutions compare fissure sense 1c

More from Merriam-Webster on sulcus

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