Neurotransmitter
/ˌnjʊəroʊtrænzˈmɪtə/noun
A chemical substance that transmits signals between nerve cells or between a nerve cell and another target cell.
Did you know?The word combines Greek neuron, meaning “sinew” or “nerve,” with Latin roots connected to sending something across—a linguistic mirror of how neurons communicate across synapses.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sneu-
“Sinew, tendon, or cord; the ancient root behind Greek neuron and English sinew.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
neûron
“Sinew, tendon, or nerve.”
Classical Latin
Latin
trans
“Across, beyond, or through.”
Classical Latin
Latin
mittere
“To send or let go.”
15th Century
English
transmitter
“Something that sends or conveys something onward.”
1930s
English
neurotransmitter
“A chemical messenger that carries signals between nerve cells; the modern scientific compound form.”