hydrocephalus noun. [hʌɪdrǝ'sɛf(ǝ)lǝs, -'kɛf-] L17.
[mod. Latin from Greek hudrokephalon, from hudr- HYDRO- + kephalē head.]
Medicine. A condition in which excessive cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the cranial cavity, occurring esp. in young children, when it causes enlargement of the head and sometimes brain damage (also called water on the brain); the fluid accumulation itself.

■ hydroce'phalic adjective & noun (a) adjective pertaining to, characteristic of, or affected with hydrocephalus; (b) noun a person with hydrocephalus: E19.

■ hydrocephaloid adjective designating a condition in which there are symptoms resembling those of hydrocephalus without any accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid M19.

■ hydrocephalous adjective M19.

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