Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun, plural a·myg·da·lae [uh–mig-duh-lee] /əˈmɪg dəˌli/. Anatomy.
- an almond-shaped part, as a tonsil.
- a ganglion of the limbic system adjoining the temporal lobe of the brain and involved in emotions of fear and aggression.
noun plural -lae (-ˌliː)
- anatomy an almond-shaped part, such as a tonsil or a lobe of the cerebellum
“the tonsils,” 1540s (amygdal), from Latin, from Greek amygdale “almond” (see almond). The anatomical use is as a direct translation of Arabic al-lauzatani “the two tonsils,” literally “the two almonds,” so called by Arabic physicians for fancied resemblance. From early 15c. as amygdales “tonsils;” as “almonds” from mid-12c.
n. pl. a•myg•da•lae (-lē)
- One of two small, almond-shaped masses of gray matter that are part of the limbic system and are located in the temporal lobes of the cerebral hemispheres.amygdaloid nucleus
- The cerebellar tonsil.
- Any of the lymphatic tonsils.
Plural amygdalae (ə-mĭg′də-lē)
- An almond-shaped mass of gray matter in the front part of the temporal lobe of the cerebrum that is part of the limbic system and is involved in the processing and expression of emotions, especially anger and fear.