microcephalic

1 9.9

Having a head much smaller than normal because the brain did not grow

adjective
/ˌmaɪ.kroʊˈsɛf.əl.ɪk/

Specialized

: microcefálico

Some microcephalic individuals require specialized educational support to help them thrive.

Examples

One was microcephalic; another had a terrible heart defect.

Blog text (28)
The doctor explained that a microcephalic child may face developmental challenges due to brain size.
Come on, you couple of single-stomach, microcephalic bilobes.

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (1996)
The capital of his sitting piano, Buku, northeast of Brazil, was the epicenter of this microcephalic epidemic.
"Thorp, you microcephalic poser!

Fiction book (1999)
Research shows that microcephalic babies may experience delays in reaching developmental milestones.

Synonyms

microcephalous

vsmicrocephalic

Specialized

9.9

A person born with a much smaller head and brain

focuses on a small head caused by a medical condition affecting brain development

nanocephalic

vsmicrocephalic

Specialized

9.9

Having a very small head and brain from birth

includes small head due to medical problems rather than only congenital cases

pinheaded

vsmicrocephalic

Slang

8.5

A person or animal with a head much smaller than the body

means a medically small head from brain development issues rather than mere comparison

Antonyms

macrocephalic

Specialized

9.9

A person or animal with a very large head often because of a medical problem

How Small

microcephalic

Specialized

1 9.9

macrocephalic

Specialized

9.9

Surface Forms

microcephalic positive

Morphology

microcephalic = microcephaly (opaque) = micro + cephal + ic

The adjective is formed regularly from the medical noun 'microcephaly' plus '-ic', but the combining form 'cephal-' is not transparent to most B1 learners.

Etymology

Microcephalic comes from the Greek parts micro- 'small' and cephal- 'head'. So, it literally means 'small-headed' and is used for a person with a very small head.