ephaptic

E1P3H4A1P3T1I1C3
/ɛfˈæp.tɪk/

adjective

Of or relating to a form of communication within the nervous system involving the coupling of adjacent (touching) nerve fibers caused by the exchange of ions between the cells, or as a result of local electrical fields, but distinct from direct communication systems such as synapses.

Scrabble 17
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Meanings

adjectiveephaptic (not comparable)
  1. not comparableOf or relating to a form of communication within the nervous system involving the coupling of adjacent (touching) nerve fibers caused by the exchange of ions between the cells, or as a result of local electrical fields, but distinct from direct communication systems such as synapses.

Origin

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek ἔφ- (éph-) + αψις (apsis)

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with ephaptic

synaptichaptictetraptychultrasynaptic
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

ephaptic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ephaptic

MLA

“ephaptic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ephaptic. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ephaptic,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ephaptic.

Source: ephaptic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.