acromegaly

[ ak-ruh-meg-uh-lee ]
/ ˌæk rəˈmɛg ə li /

noun Pathology.

a chronic disease characterized by enlargement of the bones of the head, the soft parts of the feet and hands, and sometimes other structures, due to excessive secretion of growth hormone by the pituitary gland.

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Origin of acromegaly

1885–90; < French acromégalie < New Latin acromegalia. See acro-, -megaly

OTHER WORDS FROM acromegaly

ac·ro·me·gal·ic [ak-roh-muh-gal-ik] /ˌæk roʊ məˈgæl ɪk/, adjectivepseu·do·ac·ro·meg·a·ly, noun

Words nearby acromegaly

acrokeratosis verruciformis, acrolect, acrolein, acrolith, acrology, acromegaly, acromelalgia, acromelia, acromelic, acrometagenesis, acromial angle
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

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British Dictionary definitions for acromegaly

acromegaly
/ (ˌækrəʊˈmɛɡəlɪ) /

noun

a chronic disease characterized by enlargement of the bones of the head, hands, and feet, and swelling and enlargement of soft tissue, esp the tongue. It is caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone by the pituitary glandCompare gigantism

Derived forms of acromegaly

acromegalic (ˌækrəʊmɪˈɡælɪk), adjective, noun

Word Origin for acromegaly

C19: from French acromégalie, from acro- + Greek megal-, stem of megas big
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

Medical definitions for acromegaly

acromegaly
[ ăk′rō-mĕg′ə-lē ]

n.

A disorder marked by progressive enlargement of the head, face, hands, feet, and chest due to excessive secretion of growth hormone by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland.Marie's disease
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.