acromegaly

[ ak-ruh-meg-uh-lee ]

/ ˌæk rəˈmɛg ə li /

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Definition of acromegaly

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

acrogynous, acrolect, acrolein, acrolith, acrology, acromegaly, acromicria, acromion, acron, acronychal, acronym

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use acromegaly in a sentence

At the other end, a tumor of the pituitary can over-produce growth hormone and cause acromegaly.
Where Were the Doctors to Testify at Roger Clemens’s Perjury Trial?|Kent Sepkowitz|June 20, 2012|DAILY BEAST
It may also suffice merely to call attention to the connection between acromegaly and the hypophysis.
The Organism as a Whole|Jacques Loeb
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
One case of amenorrhea I saw in recent years proved to be due to a beginning acromegaly.
Psychotherapy|James J. Walsh

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