Standard Lemma guide

glia

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈɡliːə/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: /ˈɡliə/
  • US: /ˈɡlaɪə/

1

noun

Meaning 1

The network of glial cells that supports nervous system tissue.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: plural, plural-only

Topics: anatomy, medicine, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

sustentacular tissue that surrounds and supports neurons in the central nervous system; glial and neural cells together compose the tissue of the central nervous system

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: neuroglia

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: interstitial tissue

Narrower terms: astroglia, macroglia, microglia, oligodendroglia, oligodendria

History

Etymology

From Ancient Greek γλία (glía), γλοία (gloía, “glue”), γλοιός (gloiós, “a glutinous substance, gum”)