presynaptic

P3R1E1S1Y4N1A1P3T1I1C3

adjective

In a synapse, of or pertaining to the neuron that releases neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft.

OriginEnglish synaptic ← Middle English pre- ← Latin prae- →
UncommonScrabble 20
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Meanings

adjectivepresynaptic (not comparable)

alternative pre-synaptic

  1. not comparablebiologyIn a synapse, of or pertaining to the neuron that releases neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*per-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*preh₂-
  3. Proto-Indo-European*préh₂i?
  4. Proto-Italic*prai
  5. Proto-Italic*prai-
  6. Latinprae-
  7. Middle Englishpre-
  8. Englishpre-
  9. Englishsynaptic
  10. Englishpresynaptic

From pre- + synaptic.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French présynaptique
  • présynaptiquepertaining to the neuron that releases neurotransmitter
Greek προσυναπτικός
  • προσυναπτικός (prosynaptikós)pertaining to the neuron that releases neurotransmitter
Hungarian preszinaptikus
  • preszinaptikuspertaining to the neuron that releases neurotransmitter
Polish presynaptyczny
  • presynaptycznypertaining to the neuron that releases neurotransmitter
Russian пресинаптический
  • пресинаптический (presinaptičeskij)pertaining to the neuron that releases neurotransmitter
Swedish presynaptisk
  • presynaptiskpertaining to the neuron that releases neurotransmitter
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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