English Reference
noun

isthmus

n.
US /ˈɪsməs/ UK /ˈɪsθməs/ isth·mus UK spelling isthmuses

  1. 01 C2 Proficiency Technical Medicine

    a narrow part of an organ or tissue that connects two larger parts.

    a narrow band of tissue connecting two larger anatomical structures, such as the two lobes of the thyroid gland.

    Simple

    The doctor explained that the thyroid isthmus connects the two sides of the gland.

    In context

    During the surgical procedure, the surgeon carefully separated the thyroid isthmus to gain access to the underlying trachea.

  2. 02 C2 Proficiency Technical Math

    a line in a network that, if removed, breaks the network into two separate parts.

    an edge in a graph whose deletion increases the number of connected components.

    Simple

    If this isthmus is removed, the two groups of computers can no longer communicate.

    In context

    The algorithm identifies every isthmus in the network to determine which connections are critical for maintaining overall connectivity.

    bridgecut edge

Borrowing from Latin isthmus (“a strip of land between two seas”), from Ancient Greek ῐ̓σθμός (ĭsthmós, “neck, narrow passage”), possibly from εἶμῐ (eîmĭ, “to go”). Cognate to Old Norse eið (“isthmus”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Ancient Greek ῐ̓σθμός
Level C2 · Proficiency
Frequency Occasional
Updated