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Glite Dictionary
❌ X-shaped ❌ To cross over
to decussate

to decussate

9.9
To cross so two parts make an X shape
  • verb
  • /dɪˈkʌseɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : decusar
  • The fibers in the spinal cord often decussate, ensuring that signals cross over to the opposite side.

Examples

  • The optic nerves decussate at the chiasm, allowing visual information from both eyes to be processed together.

  • In anatomy class, we learned how the nerves decussate to coordinate movements on both sides of the body.

  • Decussated.

    The Professor and the Madman (2019)

Synonyms

to cross
vsto decussate
159 1.8

To put one body part over another, for example legs

is used mainly in anatomy for specialized intersections of nerve fibers

Surface Forms

decussate infinitive
decussated past
decussated past participle
decussating present participle
decussates third person singular

Morphology

decussate = decuss + ate

The combining form 'decuss' is not a recognisable English word and the meaning 'to cross in an X-shape' cannot be reliably derived by average learners from known English components.

Etymology

Decussate comes from the Latin root decuss-, linked to decem meaning 'ten' and the Roman sign for ten 'X', so to decussate is to cross or meet so they form an 'X' shape.