🇬🇧 Cortex meaning: English Vocabulary Flash Card

The cortex is the thin outer layer of your brain and some other body parts. You can think of it like the ‘skin’ or ‘crust’ on the outside of an organ. In your brain, the cortex helps you think, remember, talk, move, and feel. It’s like the control panel on the outside of your brain that helps run many important jobs.

When I tried to remember my homework, my cortex just shrugged and said, “Never heard of it.”

I asked my cortex if it had any wise advice, and it replied, “Don’t lick frozen metal.”

When the alarm rang, my cortex said, “Time to wake up,” and the rest of my body shouted, “Mutiny!”

My cortex is like a tiny librarian, frantically running around trying to find where I stored my spelling words.

Your brain’s cortex is packed with billions of nerve cells and is so wrinkly that if you unfolded it, it would be about the size of a large dinner napkin—just a very squishy one.

A child watches through glass as the surgeon lifts the soft cortex of the brain and taps the cortex with a tiny pad. The cortex folds like warm cloth under the lamp. The cortex shines, then the surgeon taps another spot on the cortex and the patient smiles. The child exhales, stunned and relieved.

This word is at the C2 level, which means it represents the highest mastery of English. It’s often used in specialized or highly formal contexts and helps you communicate with precision and subtlety, much like a native speaker.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.