hernia
[ hur-nee-uh ]
/ ˈhɜr ni ə /
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.
Nearby words
hermoupolis, hern, herndon, herndon, william henry, herne, hernia, hernial, hernial sac, herniate, herniated, herniated disk
Compare hiatus hernia, strangulated hernia.
Origin of hernia
Related formsher·ni·al, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for hernia
British Dictionary definitions for hernia
hernia
/ (ˈhɜːnɪə) /
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
hernia
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.