# neural

/ˈnjʊɹəɫ/ (US) · /njˈuːɹəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/neural
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. biological nerves

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

relating to the nerves or the nervous system in your body.

For teachers: relating to a nerve or the nervous system in a biological context.

- The doctor checked for neural damage after the patient complained of numbness in his arm.
- The researchers studied the neural pathways responsible for processing visual stimuli in the primary visual cortex.

Usage: Usually placed before a noun; non-gradable.

### 2. computing/AI

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

relating to computer programs that are designed to work like a human brain.

For teachers: relating to or denoting artificial intelligence systems modelled on the human brain and nervous system.

- A neural network can learn to recognize faces by looking at thousands of photos.
- The latest translation software utilizes a deep neural network to produce more idiomatic and contextually accurate results.

Usage: Commonly used in the compound 'neural network'.

## Examples

- The doctor checked the patient's neural responses.
- Scientists are studying the neural pathways involved in how we learn new languages.
- Modern artificial intelligence relies on complex neural networks that process vast amounts of data to identify patterns that would be invisible to traditional algorithms.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.