gigantism
Pathology. abnormally great development in size or stature of the whole body or of parts of the body, most often due to dysfunction of the pituitary gland.: Compare hypertrophy (def. 1).
Biology. the nonpathological development of an animal or plant to an unusually large size.
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Origin of gigantism
1Words Nearby gigantism
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use gigantism in a sentence
So warm-bloodedness, or endothermy, may be one key to their gigantism.
Cannibalism in the womb may have helped megalodon sharks become giants | Carolyn Gramling | October 5, 2020 | Science NewsOthers who, because of a tumor in the pituitary gland, may overproduce HGH develop a different problem: gigantism.
Is HGH, Allegedly Alex Rodriguez’s Drug of Choice, Really So Bad? | Kent Sepkowitz | August 1, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTGoldstein reported a case of gigantism from overactivity of the pituitary gland after castration.
The Ethics of Medical Homicide and Mutilation | Austin O'MalleyConversely, in connection with an exaggerated macroscelia, we have gigantism.
Pedagogical Anthropology | Maria Montessori
British Dictionary definitions for gigantism
/ (ˈdʒaɪɡænˌtɪzəm, dʒaɪˈɡæntɪzəm) /
Also called: giantism excessive growth of the entire body, caused by over-production of growth hormone by the pituitary gland during childhood or adolescence: Compare acromegaly
the state or quality of being gigantic
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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