leukoplakia

or leu·co·pla·ki·a

[ loo-kuh-pley-kee-uh ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. a disorder of a mucous membrane characterized by one or more white patches, occurring most commonly on the cheek, tongue, vulva, or penis: often medically insignificant but sometimes becoming malignant.

Word History and Origins

Origin of leukoplakia¹

1880–85; < New Latin, equivalent to Greek leuko- leuko- + plak-, stem of pláx flat surface, taken as “tongue” + -ia -ia