thick cranium

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thick cranium" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing anatomy, intelligence, or metaphorically to describe someone as stubborn or slow to understand. Example: "The scientist noted that the thick cranium of the ancient skull suggested a robust brain structure."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

It featured a long, low cranium, with prominent browridges, and thick skull bones.

Columbia University

In each of these six illustrations, the cranium is symbolized by a thick line according to the surgeon's draft.

Biological Cybernetics

The common morphotype, to the contrary, demonstrates a more elongated cranium and the squamosal orbital branch is thick and sutured to the maxilla-this latter characteristic being typical of the genus Proceratophrys [11].

Plosone

It is a huge sac filling a considerable part of the cranium (Fig. 2E), and continuing as a thick tubular structure usually into the abdomen (Fig. 2F, 2G, 2H).

Plosone

But compared with other dinosaurs of that size, they are likely better represented in the fossil record, because their enormously thick skulls weather time and the elements better than the craniums of more delicate dinosaur species.

Huffington Post

"They did not consider that the thick and protruding brow ridges, the angular back of the braincase; and some details of the base of the cranium are derived features for H. erectus, and not present in H. habilis and H. rudolfensis".

BBC

The first thing that strikes you when you see Peng Peng is the apparent size of his cranium – unlike healthy babies his age, who are blessed with thick layers of fat, Peng Peng's gaunt cheeks let his cranium loom large in comparison.

Stanford University

And then, as you reel away with your thick bag full of bounty, you hear a whisper, up there, in your cranium, deep in the guilt cortex: what even is Duty anyway.

Vice

"They say Homo floresiensis is similar to a modern person with Down's syndrome, but no one with that condition has a tiny cranium only 400cc in capacity as floresiensis does, nor do they have thick cranial bones as it does.

The Guardian

The Bodo cranium resembles specimens attributed to H. erectus in having prominent browridges, a massive face, and thick cranial bones.

Britannica

A 12-mm-thick silicone block with full coverage of the glenoid fossa was placed and fixed in the cranium (Fig. 5).

Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing anatomical features, use "thick cranium" to emphasize the physical dimension and density of the skull, especially in comparative analyses or descriptions of evolutionary adaptations.

Common error

Avoid using "thick cranium" metaphorically to describe someone's intelligence or stubbornness. While "thick-headed" is a common idiom, applying "thick cranium" in this way can be confusing and less effective than established expressions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thick cranium" functions primarily as a descriptive noun phrase. It combines an adjective ("thick") with a noun ("cranium") to specify a characteristic of the cranium, typically referring to the thickness of the skull bone.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "thick cranium" is a descriptive term mainly used in formal, scientific, and medical fields to denote the physical characteristic of a skull with substantial bone thickness. While grammatically correct, its usage is relatively uncommon, as indicated by Ludwig. When writing, it's best to use it in contexts that require anatomical precision and avoid metaphorical interpretations. The Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness of "thick cranium", marking it usable but infrequent in general writing. Related phrases like "dense skull" or "robust cranium" may offer alternative ways to express similar concepts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Dense skull

Focuses on the density rather than the thickness of the cranial bone.

Solid cranium

Emphasizes the structural integrity and robustness of the cranium.

Bulky cranium

Highlights the size and mass of the cranium.

Massive skull

Stresses the overall size and weight of the skull.

Robust cranium

Implies strength and resilience in the cranial structure.

Heavy cranium

Focuses on the weight of the cranium.

Reinforced cranium

Suggests that the cranium has additional structural support or density.

Hardened cranium

Focuses on the increased hardness of the cranial bone.

Protective cranium

Emphasizes the cranium's role in safeguarding the brain.

Well-padded cranium

Suggests that the cranium has additional layers for protection or insulation.

FAQs

How can I use "thick cranium" in a sentence?

You can use "thick cranium" to describe a physical attribute, such as, "The anthropologist noted the subject's "thick cranium" was indicative of a robust bone structure".

What is a more common way to describe a similar concept to "thick cranium"?

A more common anatomical term might be "dense skull", which focuses on the bone density rather than just thickness.

Is it appropriate to use "thick cranium" metaphorically?

While "thick" can be used metaphorically (e.g., "thick-headed"), "thick cranium" is primarily a physical description and not typically used metaphorically. Using the idiom "thick-headed" is a more common choice.

In what contexts would I encounter the phrase "thick cranium"?

You're most likely to find "thick cranium" in anatomical, paleontological, or medical contexts when discussing skull morphology and features.