Standard Lemma guide

lissencephaly

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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  • /ˌlɪs.ɛnˈsɛf.əl.i/
  • rhymes with -ɛfəli

1

noun

Meaning 1

The condition of having a smooth appearance on the surface of the brain.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: anatomy, medicine, neurology, neuroscience, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The condition of having a smooth appearance on the surface of the brain.

An abnormality of brain development marked by the presence of a smooth cerebral cortex with few or no convolutions; frequently associated with severe developmental disability.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: anatomy, medicine, neurology, neuroscience, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Ancient Greek λισσός (lissós, “smooth”) + encephal- (“brain”) + -y, from Ancient Greek ἐν (en, “in”) + κεφαλή (kephalḗ, “head”).

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: lissencefàlia — disorder characterized by the lack of folds and grooves of the brain
  • Chinese Mandarin: 平腦症 /平脑症 (píngnǎozhèng) — disorder characterized by the lack of folds and grooves of the brain
  • Dutch: lissencefalie — disorder characterized by the lack of folds and grooves of the brain
  • Finnish: lissenkefalia — disorder characterized by the lack of folds and grooves of the brain
  • French: lissencéphalie — disorder characterized by the lack of folds and grooves of the brain
  • German: Lissenzephalie — disorder characterized by the lack of folds and grooves of the brain
  • Italian: lissencefalia — disorder characterized by the lack of folds and grooves of the brain
  • Polish: bezzakrętowość — disorder characterized by the lack of folds and grooves of the brain
  • Portuguese: lisencefalia — disorder characterized by the lack of folds and grooves of the brain
  • Russian: лиссэнцефалия (lissɛncefalija) — disorder characterized by the lack of folds and grooves of the brain
  • Spanish: lisencefalia — disorder characterized by the lack of folds and grooves of the brain
  • Turkish: kıvrımsız beyin — disorder characterized by the lack of folds and grooves of the brain
  • Ukrainian: лісенцефалія (lisencefalija) — disorder characterized by the lack of folds and grooves of the brain