microcephaly
noun
mi·cro·ceph·a·ly
| \ ˈmī-krō-ˈse-fə-lē
\
\
Definition of microcephaly
: a condition of abnormal smallness of the circumference of the head that is present at birth or develops within the first few years of life and is often associated with developmental delays, impaired cognitive development, poor coordination and balance, deficits in hearing and vision, and seizures
Examples of microcephaly in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Zika can cause microcephaly in babies infected while their mothers are pregnant. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Hidden Zika outbreak detected with new surveillance method developed by Scripps Research scientists," 22 Aug. 2019 In addition to microcephaly and brain damage, babies born with congenital Zika syndrome may also have damage to the back of the eye, joints with limited motion (like clubfoot), and too much muscle tone restricting body movement. — Korin Miller, Health.com, "What to Know About the Zika Virus and Its Symptoms, According to Experts," 21 Aug. 2019 Health officials have linked it to microcephaly, a neurological disorder that leads to babies being born with much smaller than normal heads. — Rose Minutaglio, PEOPLE.com, "The Zika Virus: Your Questions, Answered," 3 July 2019 The other child who improved, Nielsen-Saines said, was born with a moderate case of microcephaly and experienced developmental delays early on. — Lindsey Bever, Washington Post, "One-third of toddlers exposed to Zika in the womb suffer developmental problems, study says," 8 July 2019 However, the link is not absolute: Some women with Zika give birth to babies with microcephaly while others do not. — Rose Minutaglio, PEOPLE.com, "The Zika Virus: Your Questions, Answered," 3 July 2019 Zika virus infection during pregnancy appears to cause a range of birth defects, such as joint, eye and ear abnormalities, in addition to microcephaly. — Christine Herman, Scientific American, "Zika Linked to a Variety of Birth Defects," 3 Jan. 2017 Infections of pregnant women can also harm the development of their unborn children—particularly by causing microcephaly, a smaller-than-normal head. — The Economist, "Armed with smartphones, Colombians are taking on the local mozzies," 4 July 2019 Thousands of confirmed and suspected Brazilian cases of microcephaly were linked with the Zika virus, Brazilian officials said in 2016. — Rose Minutaglio, PEOPLE.com, "The Zika Virus: Your Questions, Answered," 3 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'microcephaly.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for microcephaly
microcephaly
noun
mi·cro·ceph·a·ly
| \ -ˈsef-ə-lē
\
\
plural microcephalies
Medical Definition of microcephaly
: a condition of abnormal smallness of the circumference of the head that is present at birth or develops within the first few years of life and is often associated with developmental delays, impaired cognitive development, poor coordination and balance, deficits in hearing and vision, and seizures