atrophy

[ a-truh-fee ]

See synonyms for: atrophy atrophied atrophying on Thesaurus.com

noun

Also a·tro·phi·a [uh-troh-fee-uh]. /əˈtroʊ fi ə/. Pathology. a wasting away of the body or of an organ or part, as from defective nutrition or nerve damage.
degeneration, decline, or decrease, as from disuse: He argued that there was a progressive atrophy of freedom and independence of thought.

verb (used with or without object),at·ro·phied, at·ro·phy·ing.

to affect with or undergo atrophy.

Origin of atrophy

First recorded in 1590–1600; earlier atrophie, from Middle French, from Late Latin atrophia, from Greek, from átroph(os) “not fed, unnourished” (from a- a-⁶ + troph(ḗ) “nourishment” + -os, adjective suffix; see tropho-) + -ia -ia

Other words from atrophy

a·troph·ic [uh-trof-ik, uh-troh-fik], /əˈtrɒf ɪk, əˈtroʊ fɪk/, adjective
non·a·troph·ic, adjective

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

How to use atrophy in a sentence

A muscle that is left without exercise softens and finally atrophies.
A Girl's Student Days and After | Jeannette Marks
I can only conclude that it gradually atrophies, and finally vanishes without leaving a trace.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 1 | Francis Maitland Balfour
Towards the close of this period the upper part of the cavity atrophies.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 1 | Francis Maitland Balfour
In Torpedo embryos the head-cavity is much smaller, and atrophies earlier than in the embryos of Pristiurus and Scyllium.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 1 | Francis Maitland Balfour
It is more developed in Scyllium than in Raja, but atrophies early in both genera.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 1 | Francis Maitland Balfour

British Dictionary definitions for atrophy

atrophy

/ (ˈætrəfɪ) /

nounplural -phies

a wasting away of an organ or part, or a failure to grow to normal size as the result of disease, faulty nutrition, etc
any degeneration or diminution, esp through lack of use

verb-phies, -phying or -phied

to waste away or cause to waste away

Origin of atrophy

C17: from Late Latin atrophia, from Greek, from atrophos ill-fed, from a- 1 + -trophos from trephein to feed

Derived forms of atrophy

atrophic (əˈtrɒfɪk), adjective

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

Scientific definitions for atrophy

atrophy

[ ăt′rə-fē ]

A wasting or decrease in the size of an organ or tissue, as from death and reabsorption of cells, diminished proliferation of cells, pressure, lack of oxygen, malnutrition, decreased function, or hormonal changes.

Cultural definitions for atrophy

atrophy

[ (at-ruh-fee) ]

The wasting away or decrease in size of an organ or tissue in the body. When a body part is affected by paralysis, the muscles may atrophy through lack of use.

Notes for atrophy

The term is also used in a more general way to refer to a wasting process: “Since he stopped playing, his piano skills have atrophied.”

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