Pronunciation: [sˈɛfələs] (IPA) 
The word "cephalous", meaning having a head or a prominent head, is spelled with a "ph" instead of an "f" because it comes from the Greek word for "head" which is spelled with a "phi" (φι). In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is pronounced /ˈsefələs/ with the stress on the first syllable. The "ce-" at the beginning is pronounced like "see" and the "-ous" at the end is pronounced like "us".
Cephalous is an adjective used in biology and anatomy to describe an organism or structure that is related to or characterized by the head. Derived from the Greek word "kephalē," meaning head, the term cephalous refers to any organism, organism part, or feature that is directly associated with or located in the head region.
In a biological context, cephalous typically describes the presence, attachment, or development of specific anatomical structures associated with the head, such as sensory organs, jaws, or appendages. For example, crustaceans often have cephalic appendages, which are specialized limbs located on the head used for feeding or sensory purposes.
Furthermore, the term cephalous can be used to describe specific traits relating to the development or function of the head. For instance, cephalous development refers to the process in which the head region develops earlier or more prominently than the rest of the body during embryonic growth.
Cephalous may also be used metaphorically or figuratively outside of biology to describe a person or an idea focused on intellectual pursuits or matters of the mind. This usage often implies intellectual superiority or a predilection towards abstract thinking.
Overall, cephalous is an adjective that denotes a relationship or association with the head, whether in an anatomical or metaphorical sense.
The word "cephalous" comes from the Greek word "kephalē", meaning "head". It is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ghebh(el)-, which also means "head" and is the origin of various similar terms in other Indo-European languages. In English, "cephalous" is typically used as a suffix to describe something having a particular form of head or headedness, as in "brachycephalous" (having a short and broad head) or "acephalous" (lacking a head).
