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hypertrophy

American  
[hahy-pur-truh-fee] / haɪˈpɜr trə fi /

noun

plural

hypertrophies
  1. abnormal enlargement of a part or organ; excessive growth.

  2. excessive growth or accumulation of any kind.


verb (used with or without object)

hypertrophied, hypertrophying
  1. to affect with or undergo hypertrophy.

hypertrophy British  
/ ˌhaɪpəˈtrɒfɪk, haɪˈpɜːtrəfɪ /

noun

  1. enlargement of an organ or part resulting from an increase in the size of the cells Compare atrophy hyperplasia

"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

verb

  1. to undergo or cause to undergo this condition

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of hypertrophy

First recorded in 1825–35; hyper- + -trophy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Hypertrophy is an increase in muscle mass due to the addition of structural proteins.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Hypertrophy of the human heart occurs in two types.

From New York Times • Oct. 27, 2011

Hypertrophy with dilatation may affect the chambers of the heart conjointly or separately.

From Special Report on Diseases of the Horse by Michener, Charles B.

Hypertrophy of the heart occurs in athletes, and statistics gathered among the oarsmen especially, show a relatively high mortality at the different decades traceable to the high tension produced while in training.

From Arteriosclerosis and Hypertension: with Chapters on Blood Pressure, 3rd Edition. by Warfield, Louis Marshall

For the formation of supernumerary leaves on the surface of the normal one, see Multiplication and Hypertrophy.

From Vegetable Teratology An Account of the Principal Deviations from the Usual Construction of Plants by Masters, Maxwell T.