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hernia
[ hur-nee-uh ]
/ ˈhɜr ni ə /
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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.
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Compare hiatus hernia, strangulated hernia.
Origin of hernia
1350–1400; Middle English <Latin: a rupture; akin to hīra gut; see haruspex
OTHER WORDS FROM hernia
her·ni·al, adjectiveWords nearby hernia
Hermoupolis, hern, Hernández, Herndon, Herne, hernia, hernial sac, herniate, herniated, herniated disk, hernio-
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use hernia in a sentence
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 forms of hernia
hernial, adjectiveherniated, adjectiveWord 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
Medical 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.
Other words from hernia
her′ni•al adj.The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Scientific 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.
Cultural 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.