Library / English Dictionary

CHIASM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

An intersection or crossing of two tracts in the form of the letter X

Synonyms:

chiasm; chiasma; decussation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Hypernyms ("chiasm" is a kind of...):

anatomical structure; bodily structure; body structure; complex body part; structure (a particular complex anatomical part of a living thing and its construction and arrangement)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "chiasm"):

chiasma opticum; optic chiasm; optic chiasma (the crossing of the optic nerves from the two eyes at the base of the brain)

Derivation:

chiasmal; chiasmatic; chiasmic (of or relating to a chiasm)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Also called optic chiasm.

(Optic chiasma, NCI Dictionary)