The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
n. The part of the brain that lies below the thalamus, forming the major portion of the ventral region of the diencephalon and functioning to regulate bodily temperature, certain metabolic processes, and other autonomic activities.
n. A region of the forebrain located below the thalamus, forming the basal portion of the diencephalon, and functioning to regulate body temperature, some metabolic processes and governing the autonomic nervous system.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
n. a basal part of the diencephalon governing autonomic nervous system
Word Usage
"To explain the gradual development of this inhibition of activity as the result of destruction in the hypothalamus is misleading."