1. In cell biology, a dendrite is one of usually numerous, short, highly branched processes of a neuron, which makes contact with other neurons at synapses and conveys nerve impulses from them into the cell body.

2. In physical chemistry, a dendrite is a branched tree-like crystal form, common in ice (especially frost) and certain minerals, and chiefly important in metals, which often consist of dendrites embedded in a matrix of the same or (for alloys) different composition.