cachexia

[ kuh-kek-see-uh ]

/ kəˈkɛk si ə /

noun Pathology.

general ill health with emaciation, usually occurring in association with cancer or a chronic infectious disease.

Nearby words

cachectic, cachectin, cachepot, cachet, cacheu, cachexia, cachexia hypophysiopriva, cachexia strumipriva, cachinnate, cachinnation, cachoeiro do itapemirim

Also ca·chex·y

[kuh-kek-see] /kəˈkɛk si/

Origin of cachexia

1535–45; < Late Latin < Greek, equivalent to kak(ós) bad + héx(is) condition (hek-, variant stem of échein to have + -sis -sis) + -ia -ia

Related forms

ca·chec·tic

[kuh-kek-tik] /kəˈkɛk tɪk/, ca·chec·ti·cal, ca·chex·ic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for cachexic

cachexia

cachexy (kəˈkɛksɪ)

/ (kəˈkɛksɪə) /

noun

a generally weakened condition of body or mind resulting from any debilitating chronic disease

Derived Forms

cachectic (kəˈkɛktɪk), adjective

Word Origin for cachexia

C16: from Late Latin from Greek kakhexia, from kakos bad + hexis condition, habit

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

Medicine definitions for cachexic

cachexia

[ kə-kĕk′sē-ə ]

n.

Weight loss, wasting of muscle, loss of appetite, and general debility that can occur during a chronic disease.

Science definitions for cachexic

cachexia

[ kə-kĕk′sē-ə ]

Severe weight loss, anorexia, and general debility that occur as a result of chronic disease. Cachetic patients exhibit signs of malnutrition, including muscle wasting.