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epiphysis

[ ih-pif-uh-sis ]
/ ɪˈpɪf ə sɪs /
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noun, plural e·piph·y·ses [ih-pif-uh-seez]. /ɪˈpɪf əˌsiz/. Anatomy.
a part or process of a bone separated from the main body of the bone by a layer of cartilage and subsequently uniting with the bone through further ossification.
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Origin of epiphysis

1625–35; <New Latin <Greek epíphysis a growth upon, equivalent to epi-epi- + phýsis growth (phȳ́(ein) to make grow, bring forth, produce + -sis-sis)

OTHER WORDS FROM epiphysis

ep·i·phys·e·al [ep-uh-fiz-ee-uhl, ih-pif-uh-see-uhl, -zee-], /ˌɛp əˈfɪz i əl, ɪˌpɪf əˈsi əl, -ˈzi-/, ep·i·phys·i·al, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use epiphysis in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for epiphysis

epiphysis
/ (ɪˈpɪfɪsɪs) /

noun plural -ses (-ˌsiːz)
the end of a long bone, initially separated from the shaft (diaphysis) by a section of cartilage that eventually ossifies so that the two portions fuse together
Also called: epiphysis cerebri (ˈsɛrɪˌbraɪ) the technical name for pineal gland

Derived forms of epiphysis

epiphyseal or epiphysial (ˌɛpɪˈfɪzɪəl), adjective

Word Origin for epiphysis

C17: via New Latin from Greek: a growth upon, from epi- + phusis growth, from phuein to bring forth, produce
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
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