leukoplakia

or leu·co·pla·ki·a

[ loo-kuh-pley-kee-uh ]

nounPathology.

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.

Origin of leukoplakia

¹

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

Also called leu·ko·pla·sia [loo-kuh-pley-zhuh, -zhee-uh, -zee-uh], /ˌlu kəˈpleɪ ʒə, -ʒi ə, -zi ə/, leucoplasia.

Words Nearby leukoplakia

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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