hernia

[ hur-nee-uh ]
See synonyms for hernia on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural her·ni·as, her·ni·ae [hur-nee-ee]. /ˈhɜr niˌi/. Pathology.
  1. the protrusion of an organ or tissue through an opening in its surrounding walls, especially in the abdominal region.

Origin of hernia

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin: “a rupture”; akin to hīra “gut”; see haruspex

Other words from hernia

  • her·ni·al, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for hernia

hernia

/ (ˈhɜːnɪə) /


nounplural -nias or -niae (-nɪˌiː)
  1. 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, etc: Also called: rupture

Origin of hernia

1
C14: from Latin

Derived forms of hernia

  • hernial, adjective
  • herniated, adjective

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

Scientific definitions for hernia

hernia

[ hûrnē-ə ]


  1. 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.