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OMA

1
  1. orderly marketing agreement.


-oma

2
, plural -omas, -omata.
  1. a noun suffix used to form names of tumors, of the kind specified by the base:

    fibroma; melanoma.

-oma

combining form

  1. indicating a tumour

    carcinoma

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


–oma

  1. A suffix meaning “tumor” or “cancer,” as in carcinoma. Often, the suffix is added to the name of the affected body part, as in lymphoma, cancer of the lymph tissue.


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Word History and Origins

Origin of OMA1

Probably extracted from carcinoma or sarcoma
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Word History and Origins

Origin of OMA1

from Greek -ōma
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Example Sentences

The officers warned my cowering Oma (grandma) what might await the cousin if she ever did return.

Oma carefully drew the little clay pots from the fire, and after they had cooled she examined them.

The next day Oma made baskets lined with clay, and then, putting them on flat stones, pushed them into the heat of the fire.

At the fire feast the cooking of Oma made as great an impression as the wisdom and strength of Ang.

How beautiful was the ruddy brown sheen of Oma's hair and the light in her eyes as she welcomed him!

All through the long cold winter Ang and Oma fed the fire, and Om grew well and strong again.

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Words That Use -oma

What does -oma mean?

The suffix –oma is used to name tumors. The suffix -oma is used in many medical terms, especially in pathology.

The suffix -oma is probably taken from words like sarcoma and carcinoma. Sarcoma comes from the Greek sárkōma, meaning “fleshy growth,” and carcinoma from the Greek, karkínōma, “sore, ulcer, cancer.”

When used in the plural, -oma can be either -omas or -omata, as in lipomas or lipomata.

What are variants of -oma?

Especially in biology terms, the suffix -oma becomes -ome, as in rhizome, and indicates a mass or specific kind of part.

Examples of -oma

One example of a medical term you may be familiar with that features the suffix -oma is fibroma, “a tumor consisting essentially of fibrous tissue.”

The first part of the word, fibr-, is a combining form meaning “fiber.” The suffix -oma denotes “tumor.” Fibroma literally translates to “fibrous tumor.”

What are some words that use the suffix –oma?

What are some other forms that -oma may be commonly confused with?

Break it down!

In medicine, the combining forms lipo- and lip- mean “fat.” What kind of tissue does a lipoma consist of?

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