acromegaly

American  

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

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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acromegaly British  

/ ˌækrəʊˈmɛɡəlɪ, ˌækrəʊmɪˈɡælɪk /

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 gland Compare gigantism

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Other Word Forms

• pseudoacromegaly
  noun
• acromegalic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of acromegaly

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

Compare meaning

How does acromegaly compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• acromegaly vs. gigantism

Example Sentences

The disease the AI targets is acromegaly, an uncommon condition that usually appears in middle age.

From Science Daily • Mar. 4, 2026

Today, about several hundred people with acromegaly live in County Tyrone.

From Washington Post • Jan. 24, 2023

Since then, scientists who have studied his skeleton have determined that he had a tumor that caused acromegaly and gigantism, conditions in which the body produces too much growth hormone.

From New York Times • Jan. 21, 2023

In adults, excessive GH can lead to acromegaly, a condition in which there is enlargement of bones in the face, hands, and feet that are still capable of growth.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Congenital asymmetry and hemihypertrophy of the body are most peculiar anomalies and must not be confounded with acromegaly or myxedema, in both of which there is similar lack of symmetric development.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Pyle, Walter L. (Walter Lytle)