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Glite Dictionary
refractory period

refractory period

8.7
A short time after a nerve or muscle sends a signal when it cannot respond to another one
  • noun
  • /rɪˈfræk.tər.i ˈpɪr.ɪ.əd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : período refractario

Examples

  • An actual scientific diagram of a penis in the refractory period.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • After a successful contraction, a muscle fiber enters a refractory period during which it cannot respond to additional stimuli.

  • During the refractory period, neurons are unresponsive to further signals, which is crucial for regulating nerve impulses.

  • The refractory period is essential in muscle physiology, ensuring that fibers rest and recover before they can contract again.

Surface Forms

refractory period singular
refractory periods plural

Morphology

refractory + period

The adjective 'refractory' (unresponsive after activation) combined with 'period' (a measured interval) yields a directly compositional meaning: a time during which tissue or a neuron is unresponsive. Although the term is technical, the sense is predictable from the constituents and follows a common cross-linguistic pattern of adjective + period, so a learner who knows both words can infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Refractory period comes from refractory (literally 'refusing' or 'stubborn') and period (a length of time). Imagine a nerve or muscle that has just fired and then acts stubborn, refusing to respond again for a short time, so the phrase means the time when it cannot be stimulated again.