lymphatic
Americanadjective
-
pertaining to, containing, or conveying lymph.
-
(of persons) having the characteristics, as flabbiness or sluggishness, formerly believed to be due to an excess of lymph in the system.
noun
adjective
-
of, relating to, or containing lymph
the lymphatic vessels
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of or relating to the lymphatic system
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sluggish or lacking vigour
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lymphatic
First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin lymphāticus “frenzied, crazy,” literally, “watery,” with the substantial shift in definition perhaps parallel to Greek nymphiân “to be in a frenzy,” from nýmphē “bride, nymph,” poetically, “water” ( see nymph); equivalent to lymph + -atic ( def. )
Explanation
Lymphatic describes things related to the system that helps your body clear out toxins and waste. Your lymphatic system also helps protect you from disease and infection. Lymph is a colorless fluid that contains white blood cells, and lymphatic describes anything connected to this substance. The Latin root is lympha, or "clear water." The lymphatic system moves lymph throughout the body, keeping fluid levels balanced and helping to defend against infection. Lymphatic vessels are the tiny tubes that drain lymph and send it back to the bloodstream. Swollen lymph nodes can be a sign that the lymphatic system isn't working properly.
Vocabulary lists containing lymphatic
Life Science: Human Systems
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STAAR Biology: Biological Processes and Systems
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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.
The lymphatic system consists of vessels and tissues that collect excess fluid, transport certain waste products, and help coordinate immune responses.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026
The system appears to carry fluid and waste away from the back of the eye and into the lymphatic network, which helps the body maintain fluid balance, remove waste, and support immune defenses.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026
For over 100 years, scientists generally believed that the eye lacked the lymphatic drainage systems found in nearly every other organ.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026
The lymphatic system is a network of channels and glands throughout the body that helps fight infection and remove excess fluid, according to the NHS.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
A century later, in the years after 1653, there was a bitter dispute between Thomas Bartholin and Olof Rudbeck over the discovery of the human lymphatic system.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
