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atrophy

[ a-truh-fee ]
/ ˈæ trə fi /
|

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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RELATED WORDS

degeneration, decline, downfall, downgrade, deterioration, diminution, degeneracy

Nearby words

  1. atrophic rhinitis,
  2. atrophic vaginitis,
  3. atrophied,
  4. atrophoderma,
  5. atrophodermatosis,
  6. atropine,
  7. atropism,
  8. atropos,
  9. atry,
  10. ats

Origin of atrophy

1590–1600; earlier atrophie (< Middle French) < Late Latin atrophia < Greek, equivalent to átroph(os) not fed (see a-6, tropho-) + -ia -ia
Related formsa·troph·ic [uh-trof-ik, uh-troh-fik] /əˈtrɒf ɪk, əˈtroʊ fɪk/, adjectivenon·a·troph·ic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for atrophies

British Dictionary definitions for atrophies

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 Formsatrophic (əˈtrɒfɪk), adjective

Word 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
Word Origin and History for atrophies
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for atrophies

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.
Related formsa•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.
Science definitions for atrophies

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.
Culture definitions for atrophies

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.

Note

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.