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acromegaly

[ak-ruh-meg-uh-lee]
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noun Pathology.
  1. 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
Related formsac·ro·me·gal·ic [ak-roh-muh-gal-ik] /ˌæk roʊ məˈgæl ɪk/, adjectivepseu·do·ac·ro·meg·a·ly, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for acromegaly

Historical Examples

  • Not rarely does it happen that acromegaly attacks the side most deficient in nerve supply.

    Degeneracy

    Eugene S. Talbot

  • Hypertrophy of the gland is directly associated with certain diseases, such as giantism and acromegaly.

    The Mystery of Space

    Robert T. Browne

  • Acromegaly is characterised by abnormal growth, chiefly in the bones of the head, face, and extremities.

    Degeneracy

    Eugene S. Talbot

  • Indeed, as Marie has said, giantism is acromegaly occurring during the period of adolescence.

    Degeneracy

    Eugene S. Talbot

  • In this case also the resulting ductless gland is still of functional importance, for disease of it is associated with acromegaly.

    The Origin of Vertebrates

    Walter Holbrook Gaskell

British Dictionary definitions for acromegaly

acromegaly

noun
  1. 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
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Derived Formsacromegalic (ˌækrəʊmɪˈɡælɪk), adjective, noun

Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for acromegaly

n.

"gigantism due to activity of pituitary after normal growth has ceased," 1886, from French acromégalie, from medical Latin acromegalia, from Greek akron "extremity" (see acrid) + megas "great" (fem. megale; see mickle). Said in contemporary literature to have been coined 1885 by French physician Dr. Pierre Marie.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
acromegaly in Medicine

acromegaly

(ăk′rō-mĕg′ə-lē)
n.
  1. 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
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.