hippocampus Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a complex neural structure (shaped like a sea horse) consisting of grey matter and located on the floor of each lateral ventricle; intimately involved in motivation and emotion as part of the limbic system; has a central role in the formation of memories
  2. noun seahorses
    genus Hippocampus.

WordNet

Hip`po*cam"pus noun
Etymology
L., the sea horse, Gr. a hippocampus (in senses 1 and 2); "i`ppos horse + to bend.
Definitions
  1. (Class. Myth.) A fabulous monster, with the head and fore quarters of a horse joined to the tail of a dolphin or other fish (Hippocampus brevirostris), -- seen in Pompeian paintings, attached to the chariot of Neptune. Fairholt.
  2. (Zoöl.) A genus of lophobranch fishes of several species in which the head and neck have some resemblance to those of a horse; -- called also sea horse. ✍ They swim slowly, in an erect position, and often cling to seaweeds by means of the incurved prehensile tail. The male has a ventral pouch, in which it carries the eggs till hatched.
  3. (Zoöl.) A name applied to either of two ridges of white matter in each lateral ventricle of the brain. The larger is called hippocampus major or simply hippocampus. The smaller, hippocampus minor, is called also ergot and calcar.

Webster 1913