(n)one of four small oval masses that protrude slightly from the underside of the thalamus and function as synaptic centers on the way to the cerebral cortex
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English (GCIDE) v.0.53Collaborative International Dictionary (GCIDE)
a. [ L. geniculatus, fr. geniculum little knee, knot or joint, dim. of genu knee. See Knee. ] Bent abruptly at an angle, like the knee when bent; as, a geniculate stem; a geniculate ganglion; a geniculate twin crystal. [ 1913 Webster ]