# plexus
## English
### Etymology

Borrowed from Latin plexus (“a twining, plaiting, braid”).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈplɛk.səs/
** Audio (US):(file)
** Audio (Southern England):(file)
* Rhymes: -ɛksəs

### Noun

plexus (plural plexuses or plexus or plexi)
* (anatomy) A network of anastomosing or interwoven nerves, blood vessels, or lymphatic vessels.
    Hyponyms: brachial plexus, cardiac plexus, celiac plexus, choroid plexus, Exner's plexus, internal carotid plexus, pelvic plexus, solar plexus, venous plexus
** 1934, Henry Miller, Tropic of Cancer, Grove Press, published 1961:I have the sensation of being immersed in the very plexus of life, focal from whatever place, position or attitude I take my stance.
* An interwoven combination of parts or elements in a structure or system.
** (mathematics) The system of equations required for the complete expression of the relations which exist between a set of quantities.
*** 1866, Brande & C, A Dictionary of Science, Literature, & Art‎, page 935:Plexus (Lat.). The system of equations required for the complete expression of the relations which exist between a set of quantities.

#### Synonyms

* rete

#### Derived terms

* Batson venous plexus
* carotid plexus
* cervical plexus
* extraplexus
* intraplexus
* pharyngeal plexus
* phrenic plexus
* plectic
* plexiform
* plexo-
* subplexus
* tympanic plexus

#### Translations
### References

* “plexus”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
* “plexus”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
* Douglas Harper (2001–2025) “plexus”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

### Anagrams

* suplex

## Dutch
### Pronunciation

* Audio:(file)

### Noun

plexus m (plural plexussen)
* plexus

## French
### Pronunciation

* Audio:(file)

### Noun

plexus m (uncountable)
* plexus

### Further reading

* “plexus”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

## Latin
### Pronunciation

* (Classical Latin) IPA: /ˈplek.sus/, [ˈpɫ̪ɛks̠ʊs̠]
* (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA: /ˈplek.sus/, [ˈplɛksus]

### Etymology 1

Perfect passive participle of plectō (“to plait, braid, interweave”).

#### Participle

plexus (feminine plexa, neuter plexum); first/second-declension participle
* perfect passive participle of plectō
* (pre-Classical) involved, intricate, entangled, ambiguous
* This entry needs quotations to illustrate usage. If you come across any interesting, durably archived quotes then please add them!

##### Inflection

First/second-declension adjective.

### Etymology 2

From plectō (“to plait, braid, interweave”) +‎ -tus (action noun suffix).

#### Noun

plexus m (genitive plexūs); fourth declension
* (poetic) a twining, plaiting, braid
* This entry needs quotations to illustrate usage. If you come across any interesting, durably archived quotes then please add them!

##### Inflection

Fourth-declension noun.

##### Descendants

* → English: plexus
* → French: plexus
* → Spanish: plexo

### References

* “plexus”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
* plexus in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.