chalazion

American

[kuh-ley-zee-uhn] / kəˈleɪ zi ən /

noun

plural

chalazia

Ophthalmology. sty.

chalazion British

/ kəˈleɪzɪən /

noun

Also called: meibomian cyst. a small cyst on the eyelid resulting from chronic inflammation of a meibomian gland

"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

Usage

What does chalazion mean? A chalazion is a small bump that forms on the eyelid when a gland on the eyelid gets clogged.A chalazion can also be called sty (or stye), a meibomian cyst, or a hordeolum. The plural of chalazion is chalazia. Even though they occur on the eyelids and not the eye, chalazia are typically diagnosed and treated by ophthalmologists (eye doctors).Example: That bump on your eyelid might be a chalazion—you should get it checked out.

Etymology

Origin of chalazion

1700–10; < Greek, diminutive of chálaza; chalaza

Compare meaning

How does chalazion compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

chalazion vs. hordeolum

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A sty may require antibiotics, and a chalazion may need to be drained.

From Washington Post

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023