polyp

American  

[pol-ip] / ˈpɒl ɪp /

noun

1. Zoology.

   1. a sedentary type of animal form characterized by a more or less fixed base, columnar body, and free end with mouth and tentacles, especially as applied to coelenterates.

   2. an individual zooid of a compound or colonial organism.

2. Pathology. a projecting growth from a mucous surface, as of the nose, being either a tumor or a hypertrophy of the mucous membrane.

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polyp British  

/ ˈpɒlɪp /

noun

1. zoology one of the two forms of individual that occur in coelenterates. It usually has a hollow cylindrical body with a ring of tentacles around the mouth Compare medusa

2. Also called: polypus.  pathol a small vascularized growth arising from the surface of a mucous membrane, having a rounded base or a stalklike projection

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polyp Scientific  

/ pŏl′ĭp /

1. A cnidarian in its sedentary stage. Polyps have hollow, tube-shaped bodies with a central mouth on top surrounded by tentacles. Some cnidarians, such as corals and sea anemones, only exist as polyps after their larval stage, while others turn into medusas as adults or lack a polyp stage completely.

2. Compare medusa

3. An abnormal growth extending from a mucous membrane, as of the intestine.

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Other Word Forms

• polypous adjective

Etymology

Origin of polyp

1350–1400; Middle English polip, short for polipus nasal tumor (later, also cephalopod, now obsolete) < Medieval Latin, Latin pōlypus < dialectal Greek poulýpous octopus, nasal tumor ( Attic polýpous, genitive polýpodos; poly-, -pod )

Example Sentences

They suggest that people with colon polyps who do not have active ALOX15 may not receive the same protective benefits from EPA and DHA, making the supplements less effective at slowing tumor growth.

From Science Daily

He said it was good that the doctor removed the polyps before they could turn into cancer and that I had inspired him to get a colonoscopy soon.

From Los Angeles Times

An ocean teeming with sea life, from tiny coral polyps to massive whales to birds skimming the surface of the waves.

From Literature

The study included 250 adults considered at higher risk for colorectal cancer, either due to known risk factors or because they had previously had a precancerous polyp removed.

From Science Daily

The company was testing to see if Insmed improved symptoms in patients with the inflammatory condition chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps.

From Barron's

Related Words

• tumor