autophagia

[ aw-tuh-fey-juh, -jee-uh ]
/ ˌɔ təˈfeɪ dʒə, -dʒi ə /

noun Physiology.

controlled digestion of damaged organelles within a cell.
the maintenance of bodily nutrition by the metabolic breakdown of some bodily tissues.

QUIZZES

CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THESE WORDS FROM "LITTLE WOMEN"

"Little Women" may be a classic, but that doesn't mean we all know the meanings of the vocab words from the book. Can you define these words correctly and make Jo proud?
Question 1 of 10
earnest
full seriousness, as of intention or purpose.
a feeling of dread, anxiety, or anguish.
urgent character; imperativeness; insistence; importunateness.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT
Also au·toph·a·gy [aw-tof-uh-jee] /ɔˈtɒf ə dʒi/.

Origin of autophagia

auto-1 + -phagia

OTHER WORDS FROM autophagia

au·to·phag·ic [aw-tuh-faj-ik] /ˌɔ təˈfædʒ ɪk/, adjective

Words nearby autophagia

autonomous syntax, autonomy, autonym, autooxidation, autopen, autophagia, autophyte, autopilot, autopista, autoplast, autoplasty
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Medical definitions for autophagia

autophagia
[ ô′tə-fā′jə ]

n.

The biting of one's own flesh.
or au•toph•a•gy (ô-tŏf′ə-jē) The segregation and disposal of damaged organelles within a cell.
or autophagy The maintenance of the nutrition of the whole body by metabolic consumption of some of the body tissues.

Other words from autophagia

au′to•phag′ic (-făj′ĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.