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hernia

[hur-nee-uh]
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noun, plural her·ni·as, her·ni·ae [hur-nee-ee] /ˈhɜr niˌi/. Pathology.

the protrusion of an organ or tissue through an opening in its surrounding walls, especially in the abdominal region.

RELATED WORDS

fissure, schism, fracture, breach, division, burst, tear, rent, crack, cleavage, cleft, parting, herniation
Compare hiatus hernia, strangulated hernia.

Origin of hernia

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin: a rupture; akin to hīra gut; see haruspex
Related formsher·ni·al, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

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British Dictionary definitions for hernia

hernia

noun plural -nias or -niae (-nɪˌiː)

the projection of an organ or part through the lining of the cavity in which it is normally situated, esp the protrusion of intestine through the front wall of the abdominal cavity. It is caused by muscular strain, injury, etcAlso called: rupture
Derived Formshernial, adjectiveherniated, adjective

Word Origin for hernia

C14: from Latin
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
Word Origin and History for hernia
n.

late 14c., hirnia, from Latin hernia "a rupture," related to hira "intestine," PIE *ghere- "gut, entrail" (see yarn). The re-Latinized spelling is from 17c. Related: Herniated (1879).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for hernia

hernia

[hûr′nē-ə]

n. pl. her•ni•as

The protrusion of an organ or other bodily structure through the wall that normally contains it.
Related formsher′ni•al adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for hernia

hernia

[hûr′nē-ə]

A condition in which an organ or body part, such as the intestine, protrudes through an opening in the body structure that normally contains it.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Culture definitions for hernia

hernia

[(hur-nee-uh)]

The projection of an organ or part of an organ through the wall of the structure that surrounds it. Most often, the term is applied to the protrusion of a part of the intestine that can be observed as a lump in the lower abdomen.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.