olfactory bulb

noun

: a bulbous anterior projection of the olfactory lobe that is the place of termination of the olfactory nerves and is especially well developed in lower vertebrates (such as fishes)

Examples of olfactory bulb in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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In September 2024, these miniature pollutants were also discovered in the human olfactory bulb, a type of brain tissue that sits above the nose in the forebrain. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Feb. 2025 Salinas has always had a hunch that bacteria might be leaking from the nose into the olfactory bulb. Yasemin Saplakoglu, WIRED, 5 Jan. 2025 Humans have two olfactory bulbs, one above each nasal cavity. Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 16 Sep. 2024 As Salinas expected, the olfactory bulb hosted some bacteria. Yasemin Saplakoglu, WIRED, 5 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for olfactory bulb 

Word History

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of olfactory bulb was in 1851

Dictionary Entries Near olfactory bulb

Cite this Entry

“Olfactory bulb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/olfactory%20bulb. Accessed 23 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

olfactory bulb

noun
: either of two small round structures projecting from the lower surface of the brain above the nasal cavity that transmit stimuli from the olfactory nerves to other areas of the brain for processing

Medical Definition

olfactory bulb

noun
: a bulbous anterior projection of the olfactory lobe that is the place of termination of the olfactory nerves

More from Merriam-Webster on olfactory bulb

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