atrophy
[ a-truh-fee ]
/ ˈæ trə fi /
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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.
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On the farm, the feed for chicks is significantly different from the roosters’; ______ not even comparable.
Origin of atrophy
OTHER WORDS FROM atrophy
a·troph·ic [uh-trof-ik, uh-troh-fik], /əˈtrɒf ɪk, əˈtroʊ fɪk/, adjectivenon·a·troph·ic, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use atrophy in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for atrophy
atrophy
/ (ˈætrəfɪ) /
noun plural -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
Derived forms of atrophy
atrophic (əˈtrɒfɪk), adjectiveWord Origin for atrophy
C17: from Late Latin atrophia, from Greek, from atrophos ill-fed, from a- 1 + -trophos from trephein to feed
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 atrophy
atrophy
[ ăt′rə-fē ]
n.
A wasting or decrease in the size of an organ or tissue, as from death and reabsorption of cells, diminished cellular proliferation, pressure, ischemia, malnutrition, decreased function, or hormonal changes.atrophia
v.
To undergo atrophy.
Other words from atrophy
a•troph′ic (ā-trŏf′ĭk) adj.The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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.”
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.