tumor

American  

[too-mer, tyoo-] / ˈtu mər, ˈtyu- /

especially British, tumour

noun

1. a swollen part; swelling; protuberance.

2. an uncontrolled, abnormal, circumscribed growth of cells in any animal or plant tissue; neoplasm.

3. Archaic.

   1. inflated pride; haughtiness.

   2. pompous language; bombast.

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tumor Scientific  

/ to̅o̅′mər /

1. See neoplasm See Note at cancer

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tumor Cultural  

1. An abnormal mass of new tissue growth that serves no function in the body. Tumors are usually classified as benign or malignant and are often caused by cancer.

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Other Word Forms

• antitumor adjective
• antitumoral adjective
• nontumorous adjective
• tumoral adjective
• tumorlike adjective
• tumorous adjective

Etymology

Origin of tumor

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin: “a swelling, swollen state,” equivalent to tum(ēre) “to swell” + -or noun suffix ( -or ¹ )

Example Sentences

Yet scientists still do not fully understand the molecular processes that allow tumors to escape and return after therapy, which slows the development of new strategies to stop resistance.

From Science Daily

Another group of ten patients, whose tumors were similarly aggressive but who did not receive resveratrol and copper, served as the control group.

From Science Daily

Green wrote that he has a rare genetic condition called neurofibromatosis type 2, which has caused tumors to grow on his spinal cord.

From Los Angeles Times

Although some differences existed between the treatment groups, the advantage of the lower-dose approach remained even after accounting for several factors, including age and tumor stage.

From Science Daily

The patient was a 71-year-old man with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma who did not qualify for surgical removal of his tumors or for a human liver transplant.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• Cancer
• carcinoma
• cyst
• lump
• swelling