Word
soma
Phoneticsso·ma
US/ˈsoʊmɑ/
UK/sˈəʊmɐ/
Definition
n. the main part of a cell or the physical body of a person. In science, it usually refers to the part of a nerve cell that contains the center or 'brain' of the cell.
n. the cell body of a neuron, containing the nucleus and excluding the axon and dendrites; also refers to the entire physical body of an organism as distinct from the mind or germ cells.
Examples
“The signals travel from the dendrites through the soma to the axon.”
“In cellular biology, the soma is responsible for maintaining the life of the neuron by producing necessary proteins.”
“Philosophical discussions often contrast the soma with the psyche, exploring the complex relationship between the physical vessel of the body and the intangible nature of the mind.”
Examples
simple
“The signals travel from the dendrites through the soma to the axon.”
contextual
“In cellular biology, the soma is responsible for maintaining the life of the neuron by producing necessary proteins.”
complex
“Philosophical discussions often contrast the soma with the psyche, exploring the complex relationship between the physical vessel of the body and the intangible nature of the mind.”
Usage
In biological contexts, the plural form is usually 'somata' or 'somas'.
Real-World Examples
“In his book Soma: Divine Mushroom of Immortality (1968), he argued that the Vedic soma – a ritual drink in ancient Indian religions – was made from Amanita muscaria .” Etymology
From Sanskrit सोम (sóma). Doublet of Haoma.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
Domains
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/soma